For Want of a 200' Fence

Some fields do not have 200' fences. Some are used to accommodate slow pitch leagues, for example—with 300' fences.

Some communities are more in touch with their local schools and put up temporary fences for the school season. Some are even permanent on the 300' fields. (A big thank you to the Heritage HS district!)

But others aren't so lucky. Millbrook HS and Southeast Raleigh quickly come to mind.

A friend of mine and I were discussing the disadvantages this causes. A ground ball to the outfield, for example, can easily become a home run instead of what normally would be a double. We discussed possible workarounds to compensate for the lack of a regulation field. One solution might be to chalk line where the 200' fence would be and then rule any ball that goes untouched past that line to be a ground-rule double.

We would like your opinions on this. Or other suggestions.

The best solution, of course, would be for Parks and Rec to install temporary fences. And to be honest, I haven't actually contacted them. But it seems to me that the HS season is short enough that it wouldn't be that much of an inconvenience to provide the kids with decent fields. We ask a lot of the kids, I believe we should do our part to help make their memories a little better.

Suggestions, please.

 

A fence is definately preferred, but a chalk line is adequate.

A local HS has a similiar issue, they play on a parks and rec field as well which is adjacent to a soccer field. They set traffic cones up in the outfield to mark dead ball territory.

 

Thanks.

So this would be discussed during the pre game plate meeting? And that would be the rule for that game, right?

 

Yes, we discuss any dead ball areas that do not have fences and any openings in the fences where balls may get through.

If it is my first time to a field or a playoff game, my crew and I will walk the field looking for abnormalities that need to be addressed in the pregame conference.

The visiting team and the umpires need to be aware of special ground rules prior to the game. This really wouldn't be a ground rule its more of establishing dead ball territory. A ground rule is more like an irrigation drain or something of that nature that is within the field of play. One local HS field has an electrical wire going over right field. Their ground rule is play as if its not there. If the ball hits the wire you play according to the striking point of the ground.