New Mound at the KAP Ready for New Season
April 4, 2016 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Butler BlueSox News Release
If you notice fewer hits at Kelly Automotive Park this summer, it might have something to do with pitchers throwing from a brand new mound, which was installed a few weeks ago. BlueSox co-owner and Park director Larry Sassone donated the new $1 2,000 fiberglass mound.
The old mound had been in place since 201 3, the year after the dirt area around home plate was replaced with artificial turf. While it dramatically decreased the maintenance time needed for the original dirt mound, the mound's makeup of dirt and sand atop a wooden frame would shift more than the new fiberglass build will.
The spot in front of the rubber where pitcher's would push off as well as the spot where their foot would land needed replaced every few weeks.
The new mound is designed to make that upkeep easier.
Sassone and his ground's crew will continue to work about five gallons of rubber pellets into the mound daily over the next few weeks. As the first high school and college games of the summer are played on the field, the new mound will settle into place in time for the BlueSox' season.
It was a two-day process to remove the old mound and do the basic installation for the new one. A number of local volunteers assisted in the removal of the old mound and installation of the new.
The ground's crew is working daily on other aspects of the park, including weeding the warning track and touching up any issues in the outfield.
Multiple games are scheduled for the ballpark almost every night over the next month.
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Prospect League Stories from April 4, 2016
- New Mound at the KAP Ready for New Season - Butler BlueSox
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