“We’re not sure yet,” Stanley-Boyd Activities Director Nick Mahr said Monday. “We’re hoping that everything is ready and good to go.” Mahr’s comment came in response to needed fix work at the Oriole Park ball fields, opened the middle of last decade. With softball and baseball games shifting to Chapman Park if needed pending the needed fixes and spring, the work  will cost a reported $47,000.

The school board approved the work bid for the project at the regular October school board meeting.

As to details of the present baseball field fix, the board voted in January to approve option 2 from a work quote for Hutchinson Property Services. Work on the baseball field per Option 2 calls to verify the location of home plate the pitching rubber, and anchors turn new angle. In addition, a minor lip removal will be performed on the back infield arc, as the existence of said lip acts as a water stop not allowing for proper drainage. As such, the sod will be cut and clean up performed on the existing grass edge interior.

Also included in the approved work for the baseball field is a till and regrade of existing material to remove weeds, with removal of existing sub-grade to achieve approximately two inches of depth in haul away material.

Following this, the baseball field will see install, laser grade, and compaction of approximately 200 tons of Sure Hop classic infield mix, with a resetting of new base anchors to the corrected height after installation of the infield mix. Hutchinson Property Services will supply and install a new home plate and pitching rubber, as well as adding bag clay to the mound and home plate areas. With time, work and a little patience, what’s wrong with the field, will be made right—allowing water to drain, for safer baseball.

As to the tentative softball and baseball sports schedules this spring, the Orioles play their first varsity softball game vs. Elk Mound at Elk Mound March 24 at 5 p.m. Taking a week to rest they return to the field Friday March 31 vs. Durand-Arkansaw at Stanley-Boyd High School at 5 p.m. on the field reworked last fall. Varsity baseball in turn will face off the same day at Durand High School with Durand-Arkansaw, also at 5 p.m.

With the next baseball game against Ladysmith at home on Monday April 3 at 4:30 p.m., the field of play will be either Oriole Park, or if this isn’t ready Chapman. Either way, the game will go on.