When Franklin Regional baseball players run onto the field at venerable Haymaker Park early in the season, the ground is often muddy and squishy.
A deep drive to right field last week by senior shortstop Luke Williams, for example, plugged in the ground.
But next season, the Panthers won’t have to worry about soggy field conditions.
In a few months, it will be time to roll out the green carpet.
In a move meant to get the district caught up with other Class 5A programs’ facilities, Franklin Regional is spending $10 million to renovate several athletic fields, including Haymaker Park, which will get a complete makeover with artificial turf on the entire field and renovations to the press box.
Haymaker became the home field for Franklin Regional and Murrysville Legion Post 711 in the mid 1990s. Only recently did the district gain ownership of the facility.
Turf is also planned for the on-campus softball field, and an all-purpose turf field also is in the works.
“Once the high school season ends, in the beginning of June, they will start the project,” Panthers coach Bobby Saddler said. “The guys are looking forward to it. I have seen the blueprints, and it looks like it will be amazing.”
The new-look field will not have lights, Saddler said, but it will give the team many more opportunities to practice outdoors, even on rainy days.
The baseball team had less than a dozen outdoor practices last spring.
“I think it will help our team with not only getting more games in, but practice being able to be outside more,” junior second baseman Anthony Mitchell said. “We don’t have to worry about the field being unplayable, and I think it will just be a great addition that will make next year a fun year.”
Williams, a Vanderbilt commit who has played many games at Haymaker, wishes he had one more year to play on the turf.
“Who knows? Maybe when I am home, I can stop in and use it for some BP,” Williams said. “It’s going to be nice.”
The district is looking into possible naming rights and sponsorships to generate revenue for the field projects.