Anyone ever build a baseball backstop?

[75H2]

I plan on using my tractor for the project (there, it qualifies)

My 8 year old and his baseball team need a place to practice. I happen to have an acre and half that's almost perfect for their use. Among other things I need to build a backstop without breaking the bank. any suggestions?

While I'm at it any advice on the infield. Everything is grass now. Do I dare dig up the sod and put down clay and / or sand? The area doesn't dry well and I don't want to make a big soupy mess.

They are only young once...

 

[jmanatee2]

Top of the list is drainage.

You might want to look here

Baseball Field Layout and Construction

 

[Warrior67]

75,
I think you will want to skin the infield for young players learning the game.
As Jman said drainage is the key. I have done quite a bit of work on ballfields and feel crowning the infield is more important than subsurface drainage. The other thing you will want to look into is a good infield soil conditioner such as Turface. I recently added 2 tons of Turface to a field that had never had any soil conditioners add to it. It really made a difference in the field! Everyone has been amazed at the difference in the field. In the past this field would take 3 or 4 days to dry after a rain. We have had a record rainfall in April this year and the field has dried to playable conditions with one nice sunny day.

Good luck with your project. You and the kids will get years of enjoyment from it.
If you have any other questions I would be happy to try and help.

 

[forgeblast]

littlefenway.com/
Might give you some ideas

 

[bigtiller]

I don't think 8 year old kids really give a hoot what kind of field they play on do they? Remembering back, all we wanted was a place with mowed grass so the ball would roll. Just as important as playing ball to an 8 year old is being like the big leagues with all their spitting, scratching, sliding and getting dirty. :laughing:

Would a short section of 8 foot tall chain link fence be good enough for the back stop?

 

[schmism]

well as to the question of building a backstop and not an entire "feild of dreams"

perhaps some 12' tall posts and some pulleys at the top and winch up a net for a backstop. This also has the upside of removing durring off season to extend the life of the material/allow you to mow the grass as if nothing was there and or use the posts for other uses also like a V-ball net or badmitten etc.

some how i dont expect the 8 year old catcher who misses a ball with a man on first to rip off his mask and chase down the ball at the backstop and make a hail mary throw to second for a tag out.

more likely you just need something to prevent all the balls that are missed/foul tipped from flying back a million feet in which case a net like i described would serve the purpose.

see http://www.memphisnet.net/category/bb_backstops_standard

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Both my boys play Little League. One of the Coaches finds it necessary to play at a field (not a baseball field - just a field) next to the elementary school closest to his house. The field has no sprinkler system and we have had a record dry spell. As the result the field is rock solid. The ball bounces unpredictably and is extremely dangerous - last night we had 3 kids cry after they were hit with wild bouncing ground balls. I'd say keeping it dry from too much rain is equally as important to keeping it wet from dry spells.

I'd recommend you require signatures on waiver of liability forms (from both the Mom and the Dad) from each child before they play on your land. We signed one for my other son - almost felt insulted but after doing a google search for something else I see why it was asked for...

I'd recommend you use bases that detach from the ground. They are required out here - they might be required everywhere. Safety first either way. Don't want someone to twist or bust their ankle during a slide... :thumbsup:

I own a Jugs pitching machine and an instant foldable backstop Baseball Equipment, Softball Equipment and Baseball and Softball Machines | Jugs Sports Jugs makes great stuff!

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I don't think 8 year old kids really give a hoot what kind of field they play on do they? Remembering back, all we wanted was a place with mowed grass so the ball would roll. Just as important as playing ball to an 8 year old is being like the big leagues with all their spitting, scratching, sliding and getting dirty.

That's my experience as well. For my son's team when we practice we do most of our drills in the outfield so there's enough room for everyone to practice at once. I love baseball but it's a terrible game for young kids because there's so much standing around and waiting. If you do drills in groups of two and three each kid gets as much play in an hour of practice as a whole season of games.

If you want to scrimmage at practice just draw a field with spray paint on the grass. It is handy to have some sort of fence to keep balls in but for eight year olds it doesn't have to be much.

When I was 16 I helped build a backstop but all I remember about how it was built was I had to dig the post holes.

 

[Tig]

I coached minor ball for 18 years. Best thing I ever did was make a 10 x 10 hitting net /
backstop out of mesh and PVC pipe. Worked great for pitching, hitting and was even portable so I could take it to the diamond.