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MAINTENANCE MANUAL & Reference Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to Infield Skin Surfaces ..................................................................................... 2 Managing and Maintaining Your Infield Throughout the Season ................................... 3-22 ................................................................................................... 3-4 When to Start Working on the Infield Skin Surface ................................................ 3 When to Close the Field ............................................................................................ 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Determining Playability

Infield Skin Surface Maintenance ................................................................................. 5-16 Grooming ............................................................................................................... 5-6 Rolling ..................................................................................................................... 7 Edges & Baselines .................................................................................................. 8 Adding New Infield Mix ........................................................................................... 9-10 Renovations & Grading ........................................................................................... 11-12 Moisture Management ........................................................................................... 13-16 Applying Water ........................................................................................... 13-14 Use of Conditioners and Drying Agents ......................................................... 15 Standing Water Removal ............................................................................... 16 Preparing for a Rain Event ................................................................................................ 17-18 Preparation Before a Rain Event ............................................................................... 17 Preparation After a Rain Event ............................................................................... 18 Areas with Mound Clay: Pitching Mound/Area & Home Plate Area ......................... 19-21 Repairs ..................................................................................................................... 19 Renovations ............................................................................................................. 20 Dimensions ............................................................................................................. 21-22 Recommended Tools & Equipment ............................................................................... 23-24

What to Expect in the Spring ................................................................................................... 25 Preparing the Infield Skin Surface Coming out of Winter/Offseason

What to Expect in the Summer ................................................................................................. 26 Preparing the Infield Skin Surface for the Dry and Hot Season

What to Expect in the Fall ......................................................................................................... 27 Preparing the Infield Skin Surface for the End of the Season

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INTRODUCTON TO INFIELD SKIN SURFACES

and a topical layer of conditioner/topdressing. Depending on circumstances and budgets, an infield can be constructed with a 2-inch profile of infield mix. It is important to know the profile thickness of the infield mix, prior to performing any maintenance on an infield. All soil consists of sand, silt, clay; your infield mix is a combination of these components plus any topical layer of conditioners/topdressings. Please contact your DuraEdge representative in regards to the infield mix or conditioners/topdressings currently being used on your infield(s). The proper ratio of sand, silt, and clay is necessary to ensure an infield mix is manageable

INTRODUCTION TO INFIELD SKIN SURFACES

The infield skin surface should be comprised of a minimum of 3â€”4 inches of infield mix/soil

for your specific level of maintenance at your facility in order to attain a safe and playable infield. Just as these 3 components are necessary to make a good infield mix, proper grading for positive surface drainage, moisture management, and maintenance/grooming are all critical no matter the infield mix.

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DETERMINING PLAYABILITY MANAGING & MAINTAINING YOUR INFIELD

Determining Playability and When to Get on an Infield

It is important to remember that maintenance is a process, not an event. Proper maintenance takes time and should be scheduled on a regular basis. It is always best to stay a season ahead, which includes planning and allowing for specific times to perform repairs and renovations. In cooler regions, it is best to do the bulk of the repair and renovation work in the fall. Putting the field to "bed" in game condition prior to winter is highly recommended; See Page 27 for more details.

When to Start Working on the Infield Skin Surface: You should evaluate the playability and safety of the infield at the beginning of every season. Many conditions have an effect on the playing surface, including the freeze/thaw effect of winter, the heat of summer, and the windy rain of spring. Unexpected or unscheduled use of the field will also have an effect. During the off-season, we often see weeds beginning to grow, edges becoming uneven, topdressing materials migrating, and the different soil particles of the infield mix beginning to separate, due to lack of proper maintenance. Below is a brief list of things to do before the season starts: Do not wait until the day before the season starts to evaluate the infield surface. Give yourself enough time to get work done prior to the start of the season. Inspect the infield skin surface and answer these questions: Is it too wet or too dry? Are there weeds in the infield? Did lips develop along the turf edges? Are there low areas or standing water? Do not try to work the surface or drive equipment on the infield if infield mix is either sticking to your shoes or you are leaving deep foot prints (1/4-inch or deeper). When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and stay off the infield. See Figure 1 on following page. If there is standing water on the infield, follow the guidelines for removing standing water as outlined on Page 16 of this manual. Once the infield is dry enough to get equipment on without causing damage, begin the infield skin maintenance outlined on Pages 5-16 of this manual. Remember to make every reasonable effort to dry the infield properly. Be cautiousâ€”improper techniques can cause long term issues. If the infield surface is hard and dry, begin adding moisture to the infield. See Pages 13-16.

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DETERMINING PLAYABILITY Determining Playability and When to Get on an Infield

Remove weeds, lips, and repair low areas. The infield should have a corkboard feel where the surface is stable and firm while also providing a slight spongy feel. This will allow for a â€œcleat in, cleat outâ€? effect. Make sure it is a safe and playable infield before you allow anyone to use the field!

When to Close the Field or Cancel Games: It is up to the groundskeeper or maintenance worker to communicate to the recreation director or coach whether or not a field is playable and safe. Allowing play on a field that is too wet is not only dangerous to the player, but it can negatively affect the playability of the field for the entire season. See Figure 2, an illustration of what happens when play is allowed on a wet infield. The following are some reasons to recommend closing a field or cancelling a game:

MANAGING & MAINTAINING YOUR INFIELD

Inspect your turf edges and check for lips. See Page 8.

If there is standing water on the infield or if it's currently raining. If the infield is too wet to walk on; if the infield material is sticking to your shoes or deep foot prints remain. If it requires more than 5 bags of a calcined clay drying agent or conditioner to dry a portion of the field. Remember if a drying agent is used it must be removed once area is dry. If there are lips that could cause bad hops or tripping hazards. If there are depressions in the infield skin surface, pitching mound area, batters' box, or catcher's box. If the infield is too hard and there is a safety issue due to an inadequate sliding surface. Figure 1: An infield too wet to work on

Figure 2: Results of playing on a wet infield

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Grooming

Grooming: Infield grooming and dragging must be done with the utmost attention to detail. Improper grooming techniques are the most common cause for lip buildup and poor infield skin surface drainage. This can have a negative effect on the playability and safety of the field. The infield skin surface should be groomed prior-to and after each game. This will help to ensure a smooth playing surface, allowing the ball to play down and true. Choose a grooming tool that will work best for your infield skin material, the condition of the infield, and your desired results. Often times a short rigid steel drag mat is all that is needed between games. A leveling bar in front of the drag will be helpful to spread out any piles of soil or topdressing. When using motorized grooming equipment, stay a rake width (2 feet or more) from turf edges to reduce the chance for infield mix and topdressing collecting in the turf edge and creating a lip. Use a hand drag, rake, or broom to groom the baselines, home plate circle, mound, and base cutouts. The frequency of nail dragging is dependent on weather conditions and the amount of use on an infield. On average, an infield should be nail dragged once a week, especially during the drier months. This will ensure that the surface does not get overly firm. Always rotate your starting and ending point along with the grooming pattern when grooming on a regular basis. Continual grooming using the same starting point, endpoint, and pattern will create low areas and unevenness over time. Be careful that the nail drag does not go deeper than 1/2-inch. See Figure 3. A nail drag is very useful in helping to dry out the infield skin surface if it's a little too wet. However, you must be careful not to pull infield material around the field, creating low spots and undulations. Additionally, nail dragging too deep can change the grade of the infield, create too soft of a surface, and allow the infield to remain wet for a longer period if a rain event occurs. Always lift the grooming equipment off the infield skin surface prior to exiting the infield. Do not drag the grooming equipment onto the grass.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Grooming

If it's too wet to walk on (the infield mix sticks to your shoes) then it's too wet to groom. Often times it is better to just leave it alone and let it dry. Slow down! We all have time constraints, but this isn't a race. Remember slow is pro!

Figure 3: What it should look like after nail dragging

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

At minimum, we recommend using an ABI Rascal Pro with a 3800 vibraflex and steel drag mat. Please see Page 24 for additional information on ABI.

Figure 4: ABI Force

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Rolling

Rolling: Rolling/compacting your infield is one of the most important steps to opening your infield in the spring. Compaction of the infield material can change throughout the year, regardless of the infield mix. This is largely due to weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow, and frost heave in the colder climates. This is why you must roll your infield in the spring, ideally before you have any traffic on your infield. Rolling your infield will help maintain the grade of the infield and minimize migration of the infield mix and/or topdressing materials. Rolling will help provide a firmer surface to allow for the ball to play down and true from the beginning of the season. Roll the infield when there is still moisture in the mix, but not so much moisture that it sticks to the bottom of your shoes. See Figures 5 & 6 below. Roll the infield with a 1 ton dual drum vibratory roller if available. These rollers typically can vibrate both drums together or each independently. Adjust vibration rate based on moisture conditions: less vibration with higher moisture, more vibration with lower moisture. Turn vibration off prior to stopping and turn vibration on after you begin moving. DO NOT leave vibration on when sitting still. It may be necessary to roll the infield in multiple directions and passes. A smaller roller is better than not rolling at all if you can't get a 1 ton roller. Make sure small roller has a smooth drum. Always err on the side of caution when rolling. If the roller is leaving deep imprints even without material sticking, stay off and wait for the infield to dry. Consider nail dragging prior to rolling in the spring to help re-mix the infield material. Remember to roll your infield as often as possible with a small pull behind roller throughout the spring until the weather moderates.

Figure 5: Infield too wet to roll

Figure 6: Infield ready to be rolled

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Edges & Baselines

Creating and maintaining clean, smooth edges is critical for a safe and playable surface. This needs to be addressed before, during, and after the season. Smooth and level edges will ensure successful movement of water via surface drainage. Often times, infield mix and topdressing materials will begin to buildup in the turf edges and create a lip throughout the season. This can be due to weather conditions (i.e. rain and wind), as well as from maintenance and use on the field. Inspect your edges on a regular basis. All edges need to be at grade to allow water to exit the playing surface. Any irregularities in the baselines or turf edges can create a â€œdamâ€? or create puddles within the baselines.

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Edges & Baselines:

For baselines, use a string line and take measurements of your existing edges. Record these so that you can keep track of where your edges are supposed to be throughout the year. Use a 100 ft. steel tape to measure your base cutouts, home plate circle, and pitching circle edges (if applicable) and record them as well. Keeping a record of your edges will help in the pre/post-season maintenance work and take away the guess work. To remove infield mix or topdressing materials from the turf, use a hand broom, leaf rake, vacuum, or a hose with the appropriate nozzle to jet the material out of the turf. In extreme cases a power broom may be necessary, but be careful not to damage the turf. Use a manual or mechanical edger to create a clean edge and remove edged material from the infield.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Adding New Infield Mix

Adding New Infield Mix and Repairing Low Areas: New infield mix will need to be added periodically because of normal wear and tear from play, grooming, and weather events. Low areas or depressions commonly develop in the player position areas, lead-off or sliding area, as well as baselines and home plate area. This section is broken into 2 parts: small area repairs, such as player position wear, and large area repairs, such as the baselines. Prior to adding infield mix to any size area, the following should be taken into consideration: When the grades are established or known, a 2x4 or string line can be used to bridge the area to determine/ verify areas that are below grade. This method is very helpful for baselines and home plate areas as well as base cutouts. The conditioner/topdressing should be removed from the surface, prior to adding infield mix to the low areas.

Figure 7: 2x4 Level Board

Edge the turf perimeters prior to adding infield mix, especially in baselines, home plate circle, or along infield arc. Address any lips as well at this time.

Adding 1/2â€? or less of infield mix to small low areas/depressions or wear areas The conditioner/topdressing should be removed from the surface, prior to adding infield mix to the low areas. When repairing small areas and adding 1/2-inch or less of DuraEdge infield mix to an existing DuraEdge infield, scarify the existing infield surface where the additional infield mix is to be added, and moisten if necessary. Add infield mix to the low area and use a 2x4 or sturdy infield rake to screed/level the infield mix to match the surrounding grade. Compact area with a hand tamper, plate compactor, wheel pack, or roller depending on the size of the area being worked on. Add moisture as needed to obtain proper compaction. Add topdressing and drag.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Adding New Infield Mix

When repairing larger areas and adding 1/2-inch or more of DuraEdge infield mix to an existing DuraEdge infield or other native infield mix it will be necessary to till the new material into the existing material. The conditioner/topdressing should be removed from the surface, prior to adding infield mix to the low areas. Scarify the infield surface and add moisture if necessary. Add infield mix to the baselines or low area and use a 2x4 or sturdy infield rake to screed/level the new infield mix to match the surrounding grade. If the area is too large for a 2x4 or rake, larger equipment like a grader box or ABI Force with a grading blade may be needed. If large depressions/low areas exist throughout the infield, contact your DuraEdge Representative because it may be time to laser grade the entire infield or renovate the field.

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Adding 1/2â€? or more infield mix to baselines or larger areas

Use a tiller to till the new infield mix into the existing mix to a depth of 2 to 4-inches depending on the depth of infield mix on the infield in multiple directions. Re-level the tilled infield mix. Use a minimum of a 1 ton smooth dual drum roller to compact the area. Add moisture as needed to obtain the proper compaction. Scarify lightly with a nail drag, re-level, add moisture, and roll as needed to achieve the proper compaction and finished elevation required to achieve a safe and playable surface. This may need to be repeated several times. Add topdressing, groom, and drag. Figure 8: ABI Force with grader blade and laser controls

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Renovations & Grading

Renovations & Laser Grading: The infield should be laser graded in the fall, or end of the playing season, and "put to bed". How often an infield should be laser graded depends on the amount of use the field receives in a given season and the type of infield mix used. Field renovations may be necessary if there are undulations or low areas on the infield, standing water on the infield, if edges have not been maintained, or if lips have developed along the turf edges. If you have any questions as to whether or not the infield is safe and playable, please contact your DuraEdge representative for a field evaluation. Your DuraEdge representative can also recommend a qualified contractor with laser guided equipment who has experience laser grading infields if your facility does not own the equipment. Grade shots should be taken to understand the slope of the infield skin surface and the direction in which surface water is intended to leave the infield, prior to any grading. All the topdressing/conditioner should be removed from the surface, prior to laser grading. Edge all your turf edges prior to laser grading. See Page 8. Remove any lips that may have developed over the season(s). It may be necessary to use a sod cutter to remove the lips from the perimeter of the infield. If applicable, install sod where any lips are removed. Laser grade the existing infield prior to adding any new infield mix. This will help determine how much additional mix is needed as well as provide a consistent surface to apply the new infield mix to. Scarify the infield prior to adding new infield mix, see instructions on Pages 9 and 10 for adding additional infield mix. Add the required infield mix evenly over the infield and laser grade with laser guided equipment. Before renovating or tilling the infield, the infield mix must have deep moisture to ensure a smooth tilling/ blending of the new and existing material. Till the infield with a reverse tiller such as a blecavator or rotadarion if adding more than 1/2-inch of new infield mix to an existing DuraEdge infield.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Renovations & Grading

Compact infield with a minimum of a 1 ton double drum smooth roller. See Page 7. Add moisture, if necessary, to achieve proper compaction. Re-grade infield with laser guided equipment. Add additional moisture, roll, and re-grade as needed to achieve the proper compaction and grade for the infield.

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

It is also recommended to till the infield even if: Less than 1/2-inch of new infield mix is being added to a native infield mix The soil particles of the existing infield mix are beginning to separate The soil structure of the infield is no longer balanced across the entire surface (areas that have more sand or seem loose and don't compact well).

Scarify lightly with a nail drag, if necessary, and groom infield. If play will not be taking place on the infield for several weeks, wait until the season is going to start to apply topdressing (this is particularly important in the Fall or end of the season when putting the infield "to bed" for the winter/season). If play is taking place within a few weeks, add topdressing and drag. Apply water as necessary so that there is sufficient moisture through the entire infield skin profile to achieve "cleat in, cleat out" condition. See Pages 13-16.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Moisture Management

Moisture management is essential for maintaining a safe and playable surface but is often the most overlooked part of the infield maintenance plan. Moisture management is important for the entire infield profile, not just the infield skin surface or top 1/2-inch. It is essential to have uniform coverage at the surface and throughout the entire infield profile on a daily basis. You do not want to neglect the infield and let it get too dry or too wet. Weather conditions such as wind, sun, cloud coverage, humidity, rain, and in some areas, even snow, will greatly affect the amount of water needed to maintain the infield as well as the types of topdressings to apply.

Applying Water: The goal of applying water to an infield is to achieve a corkboard feel. This will provide a fast and forgiving surface that will play true for athletes of all ages. The surface should be stable and firm, but also have a slight spongy feel. Proper moisture has been achieved when a cleat can easily penetrate the infield skin surface, and exit without taking out chunks or infield mix sticking to cleats. This is commonly referred to as â€˜cleat in, cleat out.â€™ An effective method for determining if you have enough moisture in the surface is the "key test". If the moisture level is correct, you should be able to push a key or pocket knife down into the surface with minimal resistance and minimal material left on the key or knife. If you cannot get your key or knife into the skin, you need more moisture. Hand watering with a 1-inch hose with a quality adjustable nozzle connected to a minimum 1-inch quick coupler with a swivel is recommended. See Page 23. Allow enough time before games start to properly water the infield. It can take anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 hour to water an infield depending on the weather conditions, the amount of topdressing/conditioner on the infield, the type of infield mix, and previous watering. If you have limited time, focus on the position areas and sliding areas.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Moisture Management

Depending on the type of DuraEdge infield mix on the infield, it may need to be watered several times a day. In some cases, professional infields are watered anywhere from 5 to 10 times per day. Prior to a game, it is best to apply enough water to the infield skin surface to the point where there is almost a standing water condition on the infield mix. Again the type of infield mix, amount of topdressing/conditioner, and weather conditions will dictate how much water is needed. Please consult your DuraEdge Representative if you are not sure about the amount of water to apply to the infield. It is best to do the deep watering at the end of the day when the games are over and the field can be rested for the night. Depending on the time of year, geographic location, weather conditions/forecast, and when the games will start the next day, it may be necessary to flood the infield at the end of the day to allow enough water to penetrate the entire infield skin profile. Remember proper moisture is required throughout the entire infield profile, not just the top 1/2-inch. Please contact your DuraEdge Representative if you are not sure about the amount of water to apply to the infield.

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Keep records of how often and how much you water the infield. There are many factors that affect the amount of water needed to properly maintain an infield: the type of infield mix, geographic location, weather conditions/forecasts, topdressing/conditioners, and previous watering/rain events.

Infield irrigation sprinkler heads are an option for applying water to an infield, but caution should be taken since it can be difficult to achieve uniform coverage. Often times irrigation heads will create areas of excessive or deficient moisture due to the types of heads used as well as weather conditions. The irrigation system should always be monitored so that the infield doesn't get flooded out. If you have a sprinkler system, it is best to have a separate zone that is dedicated to the infield skin surface and to keep a close eye on the system so that parts of the infield do not get flooded.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Moisture Management

Use of Topdressings/Conditioners and Drying Agents: There are 2 types of topdressings/conditioners available for use on baseball and softball infield skin surfaces. Calcined clay is a montmorillonite clay that is fired to 1400Â°F in a rotary kiln which turns the clay into a porous ceramic. This porous ceramic acts like a tiny sponge and is very absorbent which is why this material is used for drying a wet infield. Calcined clay products come in different particle sizes, with the finer particle size products being sold as a drying agent such as a Rapid or Quick Dry product and the coarser products being sold as conditioners or amendments. Adding calcined clay to an infield will not increase the clay content of the infield because it is no longer clay. Expanded Shale is a shale/clay that is fired to 2000Â°F in a rotary kiln creating larger pore space which in turn absorbs less moisture and allows more moisture to remain in the infield skin surface. This product is lightweight but typically slightly heavier (more dense) and more durable than calcined clay products. These products tend to migrate less and help shed water allowing more moisture to remain in the infield skin profile. We do not recommend using crushed aggregates, brick dust, or diatomaceous earth on DuraEdge Infields. Topdressings/conditioners should be applied to the DuraEdge infield surface only. DuraEdge infield mixes are engineered soils and should not be amended (tilled) with topdressings/conditioners. Topdressings/conditioners should always be applied to the infield surface prior to use of the field to provide a sliding surface for the players and to help with moisture management. A minimum of 1/8-inch of topdressing/conditioner should be applied to the infield surface but do not exceed 1/4-inch. We recommend using the DuraEdge Platoon Pallet (our 50/50 pallet of expanded shale and calcined clay) for optimum playability. The ratio will be adjusted especially during the late winter/early spring when rain is more prevalent or soil conditions are typically more wet. See Page 31. More expanded shale will need to be added during the drier summer months or when limited access to water is available to help maintain moisture in the infield skin surface and profile. When possible the topdressings/conditioners should be removed at the end of the season or prior to winter to help prevent migration of these materials into the surrounding turf. The use of drying agents such as Rapid or Quick Dry products should be avoided and only used in an "emergency" situation. These products must be removed as soon as possible from the infield skin surface otherwise the fine particle sizes will alter the soil profile of the infield over time.

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INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE Moisture Management

Low areas may develop from time to time during the playing season and if left untreated prior to a rain event, can accumulate standing water. See Pages 17 and 18 to read how to avoid standing water after a rain event. Below are suggestions for removing standing water from an infield: Stay off the infield if it is too wet to walk on without the infield mix sticking to your shoes or creating deep foot prints. Wait for the area surrounding the standing water to dry before attempting to get out to the area, otherwise, you will potentially create a larger problem. Do not use hand tools such as rakes or brooms to disperse the standing water. This will cause the infield mix to disperse, creating more problems (i.e. lips, high and low areas).

INFIELD SKIN SURFACE MAINTENANCE

Standing Water Removal:

Do not cut trenches to allow the water to flow off the infield. This will cause the infield mix and topdressings/conditioners to travel with the water. If the area is small, add some calcined clay to absorb the water. Avoid using drying agents when possible. Remove the calcined clay or drying agents as soon as possible once the area is dry. Use a sponge or other absorbent device to soak up the water and remove the water from the area. These products will also remove some infield mix and/or topdressing/conditioner. If there is a large volume of water, use a hand pump or small electrical pump to pump the water into buckets to be carried off the field. Do not let the discharge hose run across the infield or grass. Once the area is dry, remove the topdressing/calcined clay and add infield mix to the area so that water does not collect there in the future. See Pages 9 & 10. If the area where the standing water accumulated is either large or an entire baseline or section of the infield, it is time to repair the baselines (see Page 8) or time for a renovation or laser grade (see Pages 11 & 12).

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RAIN EVENTS Preparation Before a Rain Event

Weather forecasting is not an exact science and the weather is often unpredictable, changing without notice. Therefore, it is important to prepare an infield for a rain event prior to getting rain. The amount of preparation needed will depend on the amount of rain forecasted and the existing

RAIN EVENTS

infield conditions. Below are some tips that can be helpful in preparing for a substantial rain event.

Preparation Before a Rain Event: Check the moisture in the infield. If the infield is dry and loose, the rain can make the loose surface turn into wet slop and, depending on the slope, can accelerate the chance of erosion and runoff. Keep moisture in the infield (see Pages 13-16) so that it maintains a firm stable surface. Drag the infield with a rigid steel drag mat to help seal off the surface. Again, make sure there is some moisture in the infield surface otherwise it will not seal off. Do not nail drag or open up an infield prior to a rain event. Roll the infield with a double drum roller if available or, at least, wheel pack or tire roll as much of the infield as possible. At a minimum, roll the position areas, baselines, base cutouts, and home plate circle. Again, make sure there is enough moisture in the infield to obtain the proper compaction. Check your edges to make sure there is a smooth transition into the turf and there isn't a lip developing so that surface water can exit the infield. Tarp the pitching area and home plate area especially if mound clay has been installed in these areas. Tarp the infield skin surface. This is important when large rain events are forecasted and games need to be played soon after the rain event ends.

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RAIN EVENTS Preparation After a Rain Event

Do not attempt to get on the infield skin surface until the rain is over, there is no additional rain forecasted, and it is dry enough to walk on without the infield mix sticking to your shoes. If the infield mix is sticking to your shoes and you are leaving deep footprints, walk away and let the infield dry. See Figures 11 & 12 below.

Figure 12: An infield ready to be worked on

RAIN EVENTS

Figure 11: An infield too wet to work on

Preparation of the Infield After a Rain Event: Nail drag the infield to a depth of 1/4 inch with VibraFlex on an ABI Infield Rascal or ABI Force. It is very important to not nail drag too deep. The ABI equipment provides depth control. The goal is to break surface tension and allow the infield conditioner to work. Do not rip up the infield by nail dragging deeper than 1/2-inch. Walk away for 30 minutes or more to allow time for the infield to dry naturally with sun and wind. Apply topdressing/conditioner such as a larger particle size calcined clay (see Page 15) if time is an issue and there is little conditioner currently on the infield. Avoid using Rapid Dry or Quick Dry products if possible. Finish grooming the infield with a steel drag mat.

The bottom line: If the right materials are installed and managed correctly and the infield is prepared before the rain event, infields can take rain events and be ready for play without the need for a tremendous amount of products.

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MOUND CLAY AREAS Mound/Pitching Area & Home Plate Area

MOUND CLAY AREAS

Repairs/Maintenance: The mound/pitching area and home plate area should be inspected and repaired after completion of each game. Infield mix and/or any topdressing/conditioner should be removed from the areas that require repairs, including any holes or areas where the mound clay moved or shifted. A push broom, power broom, backpack blower, leaf rake, or infield rake can be used to remove the material. Use a rake, shovel, or trowel to remove excess mound clay or hand tamp any areas where the mound clay pushed up or collected, creating a high spot above grade. You must have a clean clay surface prior to adding any new mound clay. Do not leave infield mix or topdressing/conditioner on the areas where clay is to be added because the new clay will not bond to the surface. Scarify the surface that needs to be filled with clay and moisten as needed. Add mound clay where needed. Use a rake or trowel to shape the clay in the repair area to maintain the proper grade. Do not overfill the hole or change the slope or grade of the mound/pitching area or home plate area. Use a small sledge hammer in small areas and a hand tamper to pack the clay. For large areas, a vibratory plate compactor may be required. Ensure the shape of the mound and home plate area is correct and spread topdressing/conditioner over the area. Water mound/pitching area and home plate area as needed. Cover areas with a tarp.

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MOUND CLAY AREAS Mound/Pitching Area & Home Plate Area

Renovations/Installation:

Topdressing/conditioner or infield mix can migrate into the mound clay over time. Remove as much of the old mound clay as possible or what is needed to obtain a minimum 3-inch layer of new mound clay. Install new mound clay in lifts to meet the appropriate dimensions of the mound or home plate area you are building. Compact each lift with a vibratory plate compactor.

MOUND CLAY AREAS

The mound/pitching area and home plate area will periodically need to be rebuilt depending on the amount of use they receive.

Scarify and moisten clay between lifts. Ensure proper shape prior to compaction of final lift. Apply 1/4-inch layer of topdressing/conditioner over clay surface. Water area as needed. Cover areas with a tarp.

For additional installation directions and dimensions; See Pages 21 & 22

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BASEBALL - MOUND CLAY AREAS Mound/Pitching Area & Home Plate Area

MOUND CLAY AREAS - BASEBALL

Consult your construction design plans or the drawings below for the mound/pitching area and batters' and catcher's box dimensions required for the type of use the infield was built to accommodate. Contact a DuraEdge Representative to answer any additional questions.

10-Inch Pitching Mound:

Home Plate Area:

Rear Slope Gradual To Circle Edge 5'

Table (Level Area) Pitching Area : Excavate desired area to a 3 inch depth. Batters Boxes : Excavate area 4 feet by 6 feet by 3 inches deep. Catchers Box: Excavate area 43 inches by 69 inches by 3 inches deep.

10'-5" 4’

Pitching Rubber 18”

Sloped 1:12 see profile below

Center of Mound

6" 6' 3'

11'

12'

Front Slope Wings

43"

Pitching Mound Profile

6' 5' 4'

Pitching Rubber

3' 2'

Gradual Slope

Table (Level Area)

1' D

Gradual Slope

Dimension Reference

MLB

College

NFSHSA

Pony

Little League

Table (Level Area)

34”

30”

17”

Mound Diameter

18'

12'

10'

Pitching Height

10"

Center to Front of Pitching Plate

18”

18"

12”

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SOFTBALL - MOUND CLAY AREAS Mound/Pitching Area & Home Plate Area Consult your construction design plans or the drawings below for the mound/pitching area and batters' and catcher's box dimensions required for the type of use the infield was built to accommodate. Contact a DuraEdge Representative to answer any additional questions.

Pitching Area : Excavate 1 foot 5 inches behind and 6 feet in front of pitching rubber; 3 feet 4 inches wide. Batters Boxes : Excavate area 3 feet by 7 feet by 3 inches deep. Catchers Box: Excavate area roughly 52 inches by 5 feet by 3 inches deep.

1’5” 3’ 4”

MOUND CLAY AREAS - SOFTBALL

Softball Pitching Circle:

Home Plate Area:

8'5" 3’ 7" 7' 3'

10’

For additional ballfield dimensions, visit Beacon’s Online Dimensions Guide https://ballfields.com/baseball-field-dimensions/

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RECOMMENDED TOOLS & EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Tools & Equipment DuraEdge Recommends for Maintaining a DuraEdge Infield

Infield Maintenance Hand Tools: Qty. 6 1-2

Item

Use

36” Double Play Rake or Lute Rakes

Each position needs a rake to hand rake their area of play

Sweet Spot Hand Tamps

Repairing and packing the mound and plate clay

Toolite Sifting Scoop

Removing packing clay after games and leaving infield soil & topdressing on field

2-Way Loop Action Hoe

Repair work for scratching packing clay on the mound & home plate area

24” General Purpose Brooms

Smoothing areas throughout the infield, plate, and mound

1-3

Cleat & Spike Cleaner

One on the mound, and one on each dugout

2 Gallon Hand Sprayer

Use to repair; adding packing clay and controlling moisture in these areas

1” Ultralite Hoses 100’

1” Kocheck Multi-Mist Hose Nozzle

1” Quick Coupler Key Swivel Hose Adapter

1” Quick Coupler Key

Key connection to irrigation

3-4

6’ x 18’ Rigid Drag Mat

Best way to drag field before and after ball game

3-4

Garden Fan Leaf Rake

Use to hand water infield skin Use to hand water infield skin; important to be able to control amount of water Connect from key to hose and keep full capability to water skin

Walk all grass to infield skin edges; rake infield & topdressing back to infield skin

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RECOMMENDED TOOLS & EQUIPMENT Tools & Equipment DuraEdge Recommends for Maintaining a DuraEdge Infield

ABI Sports Turf Infield Rascal® Pro or MVP

ABI Sports Turf Force®

Tow behind unit equipped with a rigid drag mat, profile blades™ and 3800 VibraFlex™ Additional attachments are available

RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Infield Maintenance Equipment:

Self-propelled infield groomer equipped with a rigid drag mat, profile blades™ and 3800 VibraFlex™ Additional attachments are available

ABI Sports Turf Kiser Water Trailer™ Tow behind 300 gallon water wagon equipped with a Briggs & Stratton Engine, rear spray nozzle and spray hose. Perfect for watering an infield when access to water is limited or located a distance from the infield. Additional attachments are available.

Vibratory Plate Compactor Engine driven, self-propelled walk-behind machines that impart powerful vibratory compaction effort to loose materials via a bottom-mounted steel plate. Recommend a unit with a 15 to 20-inch wide steel plate. Available from rental stores or purchase

Double Drum Vibratory Roller - 1 to 3 ton Engine driven, ride on machines with 2 smooth drums that impart powerful vibratory compaction effort to loosen materials. Recommend a unit with a minimum 1 ton and a maximum of 3 tons compaction force. Each drum should vibrate independently as well as simultaneously. Available from rental stores or for purchase.

To learn more, visit www.abiattachments.com

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WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SPRING

Preparing the Infield Skin Surface Coming Out of Winter/Offseason

During winter months, the ground will retain plenty of moisture and, in many areas, the infield will go through a few freeze/thaw cycles. This causes the soil to loosen/soften up and therefore requires a light re-compaction. Once the frost has left the ground and you are able to walk around on the infield leaving nothing more than footprint indentations, the field is ready to roll (a one ton roller is ideal, see Page 7). If material is sticking to your shoes or water becomes present in the footprints, the infield is too soft to roll. The most important thing to remember is to be patient. Damage can be done if equipment is brought onto an infield too early.

Key Topics to Review for Infield Maintenance in the Spring: Rolling is usually a must in the spring. See Page 7. We recommend using the DuraEdge Platoon Pallet (our 50/50 pallet of expanded shale and calcined clay). See Pages 15 and 31. Review grooming techniques. See Pages 5 & 6. Review Preparing for a Rain Event Before and After. See Pages 17 & 18. Work on edges and baselines if work was not completed in the fall. See Page 8. Inspect and repair mound area, battersâ€™, and catcherâ€™s boxes

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WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SUMMER Preparing the Infield Skin Surface for the Dog Days of Summer

type or level of infield skin surface you maintain. Applying water at night or later in the day will give it the best chance of getting down into the profile and staying there for as long as possible. See Pages 13 & 14. Hand watering is the best method of watering because you can control and regulate the amount of water being applied, but certainly takes the most time. Sprinkler heads also work very well, although sometimes make it difficult to achieve consistent coverage over the entire infield.

Key Topics to Review for Infield Maintenance in the Summer:

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SUMMER

Keeping moisture in the infield skin surface in the summer is the best strategy no matter what

An effective method for determining if you have enough moisture in the surface is the “key test.” If the moisture level is correct, you should be able to push a key down into the surface with minimal resistance and minimal material left on the key. If you cannot get your key into the skin, you need more moisture. See more about moisture management on pages 13-16. Add additional expanded shale from your Platoon Pallet to the infield surface to help maintain moisture in the infield skin surface. See Pages 15 & 31. Nail drag on a regular basis to a depth between 1/4 and 1/2-inch will help keep a loose layer of infield mix and topdressing on the surface to provide a softer playing surface. See Pages 5 & 6. Releasing compaction from your surface once or twice in the summer is another method recommended. This will keep the surface from getting too hard. This is best achieved using an ABI Force or Rascal equipped with profile blades™ that can be set to penetrate an inch or more under the surface, thereby releasing the compaction from below with minimal surface disturbance. It is best to do this before the infield skin becomes too dry and compacted or after a rain event, otherwise, it will be difficult to engage the blades into the skin surface and you will not be able to achieve the desired results. The home plate and mound areas need daily moisture to keep from drying and cracking out quickly. These areas should be tarped—tarps help seal the moisture in, while keeping excess moisture out. If the field is not being used during the summer, weekly grooming and dragging should still take place to help limit the amount of weeds that can grow in the infield. If the field is not being used during the summer, renovation work or laser grading should be considered if needed. See Pages 11 & 12.

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WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FALL

Preparing the Infield Skin Surface for the End of the Season

Fall is the best time of year to consider performing any field renovations or laser grading, as well as the time to prepare to put the infield "to bed" for the winter. For most parts of the country, the fall is the ideal time to do any turf work including seeding or installing sod. It is important to put the infield "to bed" prior to the winter freeze/thaw cycles so that opening the field in the spring is an easy and smooth process.

Key Topics to Review for Infield Maintenance in the Fall: If the infield is being used throughout the fall months, add additional calcined clay from your Platoon Pallet to the infield surface to help manage moisture in the infield skin surface during the wetter fall months. Ideally, you want to get back closer to the 50/50 expanded shale/calcined clay ratio. See Pages 15 & 31. Review grooming techniques. See Pages 5 & 6. Review Preparing for a Rain Event: Before and After See Pages 17 & 18. Inspect and repair mound area, batters' and catcher's boxes. Perform any renovation work prior to winter. See Pages 19-22. Topdressing/conditioner should be removed at the end of the season. At the end of the season, the infield should be groomed and rolled. See Pages 5-7. All perimeters should be inspected and all turf edges should be edged. Any lips should be removed prior to winter. Ensure there is a smooth transition from the infield surface to the grass edge so that surface water can drain/flow off the infield. See Page 8. Infield mix should be added to any low areas so that there is no standing water collecting in areas over the winter. See Pages 9 & 10. Install wind barriers where needed to help prevent migration of infield mix and/or topdressing/conditioner from migrating into the turf edges. If the field is not being used during the fall or at the end of the fall season, renovation work and/or laser grading should be considered prior to winter. See Pages 11 & 12.

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Lab ID

Report Date

A Sand

B Silt

C Clay

D Medium Sand

B/C SCR

Lab ID

Report Date

A Sand

B Silt

C Clay

D Medium Sand

B/C SCR

Lab ID

Report Date

A Sand

B Silt

C Clay

D Medium Sand

B/C SCR

Lab ID

Report Date

A Sand

B Silt

C Clay

D Medium Sand

B/C SCR

Existing Conditions

1st Application 2nd Application 3rd Application

E.S.T. ANALYSIS CHART

Existing Conditions

1st Application 2nd Application 3rd Application

Existing Conditions

1st Application 2nd Application 3rd Application WWW.DURAEDGE.COM

NOTES

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NOTES

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TWO PLAYERS COVERING ONE DEFENSIVE POSITION

G N I CT

COD U D PR

T ES O R EW

pLATOON

TOUR N

PALLET

20 BAGS OF EXPANDED SHALE

20 BAGS OF CALCINED CLAY

LAYERED ON A PALLET FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

PLAYER 1

PLAYER 2

Expanded Shale Topdressing

Calcined Clay Conditioner

battling the dry field

Managing the wet field

allows water to flow through to the base material

absorbs excess water during wet conditions

keeps needed moisture in the infield skin surface & profile

eliminates water from the surface to prevent fields from flooding

use together with calcined clay for optimum playability, or adjust the ratio to manage the hard & dry field

use together with expanded shale for optimum playability, or adjust the ratio to manage the soft & wet field

Rain or shine, your field is fine. Follow us on:

Preserving the integrity of ball fields www.duraedge.com

everywhere.

BASE

THE RIGHT FOUNDATION DURAEDGE ENGINEERED INFIELD MIXES

BASE

THE RIGHT TOPDRESSING PROSLIDE ENGINEERED TOPDRESSING

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT INNOVATIVE GROOMERS FROM ABI SPORTS TURF

Preserving the integrity of ball fields www.duraedge.com

BASE

everywhere.

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