The Bill Hill’s Ballers (3-0) have won their third consecutive game to start the downtown Phoenix intramural softball league after defeating the Law Ball’s with a score of 15-5 on Monday.
The story should focus on manager Dylan Kane perfecting a lineup that leads the league in runs per game. Alternatively, it could highlight the Baller’s star centerfielder Nate Mills, who hit four home runs in a six-inning game on March 31st.
However, the atrocious field conditions at ASU Preparatory Academy steal the spotlight. The field is unsuitable for recess kickball, let alone for college-age adults risking injury in an intramural softball game.
“It begs the question if it’s even safe to play on the field,” Kane said. “The conditions are so awful.”
Beginning with the infield, the right-handed batter’s box features two large divots from years of hitters digging in. If left unmaintained, the fear of injury will increase.
The fears of a hitter getting their foot caught in one of these divots became a reality when the Ballers lost their first baseman and number three hitter on opening day. I dislocated my knee and broke my ankle in that batter’s box.
Speaking of first base, the actual base is a loose cushion that isn’t pinned down to the field. It gives and slides with every step, creating an accident waiting to happen.
Initially, the cushion isn’t the only concern; a brick protruding from the ground marks the cushion base. In the best-case scenario, it is avoided as a tripping hazard, or in the worst-case, it could cause serious injury.
The dimensions of the outfield are laughable. Left field is a combination of the short porch at Yankee Stadium and the Green Monster at Fenway, which Kane dubbed the chainlink monster. The fence only juts out about fifty feet from the foul pole to center field, which leads to the next landmine that fielders need to navigate around.
In centerfield, about 250 feet away, there is a group of picnic tables that are in play. It is challenging enough to maintain a tough position in softball, like centerfield, but now players have to worry about routine flyballs turning into crashing a picnic like Yogi Bear.
“They’re so dangerous, Kane said. “Every time I see Nate track down a flyball in center I wince when he gets close to those picnic tables.”
We aren’t finished with the outfield just yet. The fence in right field is over 700 feet away. Once again, the dimensions of this field are laughable.
Everything would be fine in the outfield if there were a clear set of rules from the umpires for handling all these obstacles.
The Ballers have received varying rulings each game this year concerning the picnic tables and the depth of right field. In one game, it counts as a ground-rule double, while in the next, it is considered in play.
“It’s all around not a very good field, but with the rules being so unclear, it opens up for more potential injury,” Kane said. “I just hope no one gets hurt for the rest of the season.”
How does a league permit its teams to play in such poor field conditions? Was the injury to the Ballers’ first baseman merely a fluke? Or could it have been avoided if the field had been in better shape?
“ASU downtown Intramurals need to do a better job of securing a safer field Kane said If not at the preparatory academy, then where should the league conduct its games?
Randy Johnson Field is just blocks away from the current field where the Ballers play, and it would provide a safer playing environment.
Take it from the first baseman with a broken ankle: safety is the top priority for all players.
