‘Array Of Advantages’: EP Softball Players Rave About New Field

EVERGREEN PARK, IL - School and village officials have been joined by field turf experts and former Major League Baseball players alike in how much they are impressed with the new baseball and softball playing surfaces at Evergreen Park Community High School.

But while few others may have even seen the newly installed fields, a group of Mustang softball players have already played on it. The Mustangs’ baseball and softball squads had a few games on the new turf, installed by Midwest Turf Systems with a Brock USA shock pad underneath, this past spring before the new school amenities were unveiled to the community.

Their consensus? The fields offer a much better game experience than anywhere else.

“Aside from how beautiful the new turf fields look, they also provide our players with an array of advantages,” softball player Nicole Reynolds said. “Because artificial turf is much more durable than grass, playability is much higher and the fields can be played on much more often. The number of cancellations have decreased and the problems of a potentially rainy spring are taken away.”

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Reynolds said as a fielder, the hop the ball takes on the turf “takes some getting used to for sure,” but “being able to practice on these all of the time, allows us to adjust to the speed and reaction of the ball, giving us a huge home field advantage.”

April Kirts said the turf field “has helped me as an outfielder become a little faster to pick up the quick rolling ground balls.”

Lily Strand cites the field’s “low maintenance” and comfort.

“On game days we now don’t have to rake out dirt, put down chalk for baselines, or cover it with a tarp to protect from harsh weather,” Strand said. “The new surface is durable and can handle rainy days as well as absorb heat or those really hot days giving the most comfortable game day experience.”

The players say opponents have noticed the difference, too.

“I have a few friends who play softball at Shepard and Richards and I have heard nothing but positive reviews from them,” Kirts said. “They've said that they're excited to get to compete against us on our field and that they're happy our team has such a great facility to practice and play on.”

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Strand added that the turf “is something no other team in our conference has.”

The fields were installed for future generations of Evergreen Park baseball and softball players, which is what Kirts said she is most excited about.

“It's great to see girls and boys that play for EPGSL or EPBC so excited to play high school ball,” she said.