Equipment for ball field maintenance

[KenKubota]

I've been asked to submit a bid for maintaining the softball fields here in town. I won't actually be mowing the grass, just preparing and repairing the infields. i could use some advice on what type of attachment(s) I will need. Does anyone out there do this type of work? I understand that once a year the infield gets tilled, but I wonder whether a power rake might do a better job than a tiller. At Present I have a york rake. Do I need some sort of a drag mat? how about a roller.
Any help will be welcome.

 

[BXpanded]

Done lots of field maintenance as a volunteer. Same pay rate I got as a Coach!
Most of the time the only powered equipment you'll need is a drag. Google "Flat Wire Conveyor". That stuff makes the best drag I've ever seen. It's available in many widths and sometimes you can get a short piece for free from a local manufacturing plant. It only flexes in one direction and moves the dirt very well. Never drag near the grass line as the dirt kicks over into the grass, the grass continues to grow through the dirt, and you'll end up with a ridge in the edge of the grass. Then a sodcutter is the only way to repair. Hand rake the 3 feet or so closest to the grass.
Maintain batter's boxes and pitching rubbers by filling the holes with clay, dampening slightly and tamping with a hand tamp after the games are done for the day. If it's done just before a game it won't last 2 innings. Lay a piece of carpet over the dirt and it won't stick to the face of the tamp.
A cheap lawn tractor works well for dragging. Then you won't be so concerned about the massive amounts of dust your tractor will be inhaling. You'll have the best fields if you drag after the games then a quick once over just before games on the next day.
I have no idea why the infield would be tilled annually. That would bring up any rocks that might be covered.

 

[KenKubota]

Thanks for the advice. Of course, I was hoping for an excuse to buy a new attachment and you kindof let me down in that regard. Actually our problem here seems to be less with dust than with puddles. The infields tend to get compacted and then they don't drain well and any little depression holds water. I think that is why they call for "fluffing" up the dirt each spring. It may be also that they used too much clay in the mix when the field was built.

 

[Tags]

I've installed a couple of ball fields and currently maintain a few as well. I use a Harley rake primarily, but a tiller in the spring is good to loosen all the old clay up, just don't go too deep as there may be drainage under the infield. And like Bxpanded said, always try to not spill the clay over on to the outfield grass as it certainly will cause all sorts of headaches. The drag also works good, i usually hit em' with the power rake every few weeks and the drag gets used before every game, most of the time by someone that helps out around the ball fields, so sometimes that creates highs and lows, especially if they leave the infield at the same spot every time.

 

[actionaj]

I use a landscape rake and a drag. Landscape rake at the start of the season to get it into shape. Then during the season I use a drag pulled buy my four wheeler.