Presentation cfs base-soft ball-1

California Facility Specialties Inc.

8/4/2014 California Facilities Specialties Inc.

Welcome to California Facility Specialties
Baseball and Softball are the only sports that are
played on fields that have two different types of
turf. Most of the game is played in the infield in the
skinned area. This area should receive same
attention as the turf area
Properly laid out and constructed baseball fields are
important to the game.
Make sure you have a relatively level, and open area
of ground, make sure you have a supply of turf grass
playing surface.

Skinned Infield
350’ Homerun Fence
Backstop
95’ radius
18’ Dia.
60’-6”
45’
90’
60’
Recommended outfield
fence distances min. of 300’
down the foul line, min. 350’
to Center field.
1st and 3rd base are
measured from the rear
tip of home plate to back
corner of base. 2nd base
is measured from center
of base to baseline.
Pitching distances are
measured from the front
of pitcher’s plate to rear
point of home plate
5’ Dia. On deck circle
Placed in a safe location

1. Placement of home plate determines layout of the
field. Be sure to plan for some type of backstop to
contain stray pitches and to protect fans from tipped
balls. If it is truly a backyard field and fans behind the
batters box are not likely, planting shrubs about 60
feet (minimum required for high school and college
fields) behind home plate may prevent errant balls
from rolling too far away from the field

2. Using the apex of home plate (back corner),
cut out turf in a 13-foot radius.
3. The next step is to locate second base.
Measure from the back tip of home plate to a
distance of 84’-10 ¾” (CA.) Mark with a wooden
stake. When installing base pads, this will be the
center of second base

4. With the tape measure still in place, it is
easiest to go ahead and mark the location of
the pitching rubber at this time. The
placement can be marked by measuring from
the back tip of home plate along a string
stretched to second base. The pitching rubber
should be at 60’-6” inches.

5. The easiest way to find first and third base is to use
two tape measures. Stretch one tape from second
base stake toward the first base line and the second
tape from the back tip of home plate toward first base
area. The point where the two tapes cross at the 90-
foot mark is the back corner of the bases. Repeat this
step to find third base. A baseball diamond is actually
a 90-foot square.

6. First and third base fit
within the square, but
second base is
measured to the center
of the bag. Improperly
placed second base is
one of the most
common mistakes
made when setting up a
baseball field.
7. To make a "slide area"
around the bases, cut
out turf around bases
by measuring a 13-foot
radius within the 90-
foot square. You can
leave the base paths
grassed if you like, or
you can turn them into
skinned base paths.

8. Next, turn your attention to the
pitcher's mound. The diameter of
a pitcher's mound clay is 18’, with
10’ from the front of the rubber,
toward home plate and 8’ from
the back of the rubber.
9. The top of the mound consists of
a plateau that is 5’ wide.

10. A regulation pitcher's mound is
10 ½ inches high (compared to
surface level of home plate).
Miscalculation of the pitcher's
mound height is probably the
second most common error in
setting up a baseball field. A
transit or field level is best for
setting the height, but in a pinch,
other methods my also work. I
once saw a guy peering through
a cheap scope clamped to a
carpenter's level on a makeshift
tripod. Another option is to use
your stakes with taut string and a
ruler. A standard pitcher's rubber
is 24 inches by 6 inches.

11. Building a pitcher's mound is as
much an art as it is a science. Build
the mound from ground up, 1 inch
at a time keeping in mind the
mound's slope (see next step). As
you add each layer, tamp or roll
the soil.
12. Beginning 12 inches in front of the
pitcher's rubber and measuring
toward home plate, for every one
foot of distance the slope will fall
one inch (until the slope meets
ground level).

16’ Dia.
Skinned Infield
250’ Homerun Fence
Backstop
40’
84’-10”
60’ radius
30’
60’
25’ Min.
Recommended outfield
fence distances 250’-
275’ to center field
1st and 3rd base are measured
from the rear tip of home plate to
back corner of base. 2nd base is
measured from center of base to
baseline.
Pitching distances are
measured from the front of
pitcher’s plate to rear point of
home plate
5’ Dia. On deck circle
Placed in a safe location
8/4/2014
California Facilities Specialties Inc.

Copyrights
by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences (UF/IFAS)
Some of the reference information in this presentation is
copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of
Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but
permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the
Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of
Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in
part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit
is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and
date of publication 3/25/2014.

Planning for sports courts and athletic fields is one of the area that CFS can help.
There are many choices that have to be made in a new construction projects or modernizations that it’s
easy to be overcome with choices for equipment needs. The time that is invested into reference
catalogues and samples for ideas of what equipment to used can be time consuming.
Evaluate the needs of the project for sports equipment;
Is the facility going to be year round or seasonal and the level of competition that will be using the facility
can range from amateur and high school to professional or college level competition.
Factor in maintenance and support for your new equipment. Many manufacture are not located
in California and it can be difficult to get service or information, also having a locally based person to
contacted for questions regarding DSA submittal can be helpful. This save time in waiting for a response
and coordination of updates.
When you are designing a new or updating an existing facility you want to partner with a company with a
solid understanding of the equipment and manufactures with a long history of projects in California.
All of the items are important things to consider when you are planning or updating your
sports facilities.

P

Remember this important item.
A minimum of three manufactures listed as “Approved
Manufacture” it keeps the bidding competitive for the sports
equipment products in your project.
Consideration of these areas will help create a successful
project.

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