Smithtown High School Baseball Fields Get Off-Season Makeover

A long-term partnership between Smithtown school athletics and a local little league program has helped bring new life to two varsity baseball fields. 

Smithtown High School East's baseball field was redone earlier this fall, and work is getting underway at High School West's field thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from St. James/Smithtown Little League to help makeover the fields, Times of Smithtown reports. 

"Both fields needed a lot of work,"Pat Smith, athletic director for Smithtown school district, told Times of Smithtown, recalling an umpire stopping play mid-game due to the fields poor condition.

At High School East, a contractor regraded the varsity baseball field - which involved ripping up the infield grass, taking out clay under the infield and re-laid new clay -  put in a new pitcher's mound, made adjustments to the sprinkler system and putting in new sod along the infield, sidelines and dugouts.

Similar upgrades will get underway on West's baseball field on Friday. The project is expected to take 4 days and will not interfere with schedules as its off season for baseball. 

The St. James/Smithtown Little Leagues older travel team players often use the school's varsity fields, so the league's donations will benefit its players as well

Read more on Times of Smithtown on the Smithtown High School baseball field's upgrades.