Ready For Its Close-Up, Owls Softball Field Sees Infield Makeover
“We’re trying to build a great program and a great culture here,” said Owls softball coach Joe Hough. “The work has really improved the drainage and the surfaces, and the while our players work to live up to the expectations we’ve set for ourselves, the field matches those expectations."
FIELD PHOTO GALLERY
WESTFIELD, Mass. – A new infield surface is the highlight of some summer renovations to the Westfield State University softball field.
A project was recently completed that included re-grading the surface of the skinned dirt portion of the infield and replacing the surface, realigning the pitching rubber and home plate, and re-sodding the outfield lip of the infield.
"The work is designed to really improve the drainage and the playability of the infield surface," said Westfield State director of athletics Richard Lenfest, Jr. "We had gotten to the point where there were some pretty big standing puddles when we got a hard rain storm, which would keep the team off the field for practices or games more than we would like to see. After a period of time with any field it's a necessary renovation to resurface, as time, weather, the amount of speedy-dry you've had to use, and other factors will affect the quality of your infield surface."
The dugouts also got some painting touch-up to refresh the look and feel of the stadium.
"We're trying to build a great program and a great culture here," said Owls softball coach Joe Hough. "The work has really improved the drainage and the surfaces, and the while our players work to live up to the expectations we've set for ourselves, the field matches those expectations and our team will be proud and excited to play at home. I had a recruit and a parent come through the other day and they said that they had been to a number of schools including some Division I programs and they thought those facilities weren't as nice as what we had on campus at Westfield State."
The field got it's inaugural test for a scrimmage between two club teams on Wednesday, and the Owls will be hosting another prospect clinic on Sunday, August 25.
The work comes on the heels of other recent renovations that include the installation of block dugouts in 2012, and the grandstand and press boxes, and bullpen areas that were added at the softball field and Hagan Field in 2016. Outfield branding signage was added early in the 2024 season.
Westfield State softball posted a 28-13-1 record in 2024 under second-year coach Hough. The Owls set a school record for wins, finished 12-2 in conference play to earn the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference's regular season title, and hosted the 2024 MASCAC Tournament before falling in the championship game.
