Park Authority board approves renovation for Pfitzner field

The Prince William County Park Authority Board recently approved a $300,000 project to renovate the baseball field at the Potomac Nationals’ home ballpark, Pfitzner Stadium.

The renovations involve installing new grass, a new irrigation system, new sod and soil.

The project will begin shortly after Potomac’s season ends be it either Sept. 6, the day following the end of the regular season, or Sept. 20 following the conclusion of the Carolina League playoffs.

The Park Authority and Prince William County Board of Supervisors will split the cost and the Nationals will monitor the project to ensure it will be completed by the beginning of the 2012 season. It is likely, however, the project will take six to eight weeks to complete.

“It will not just be new grass [that is installed], but everything underneath the grass is going to be excavated and be rebuilt with a new drainage system and new sloping,” Potomac owner Art Silber said.

“The field is 27 years old and has never been rebuilt. With the amount of clay underneath it and the natural subsoil in the area, it’s difficult to develop a proper drainage system and develop some low spots in the outfield. It’s also impossible to get the water to not accumulate. That has created some situations that are less than ideal.”

Park Authority executive director Jay Ellington said that one of the project’s main purposes is to raise the elevation of the outfield and that the Nationals are working on obtaining a waiver from the office of minor league baseball that allows the field to be under the regular field standard.

This project will be the latest in an attempt to get Pfitzner Stadium’s field in proper playing shape to avoid the difficult predicaments Potomac has experienced this year.

An April home series against the Frederick Keys was moved to Harry Grove Stadium in Maryland due to field issues.

A July 14 home doubleheader was postponed due to unplayable conditions even when the weather was perfect for a game.

Recently, Potomac hired Michael Larson to supervise the maintenance of the ballpark’s grounds.

Larson comes to Potomac from Florida State University where he was responsible for the maintenance of FSU’s baseball field. He has 20 years of maintenance experience with college and professional stadiums.

Field renovations will continue a stadium makeover that began earlier this year. The home clubhouse was renovated to create a more spacious setting for Potomac’s coaches and players.

Manager Matthew LeCroy has a new office. The coaches have a new office and there is a lounge with a television that connects the coaches and manager’s work spaces.

There is a new space for the washer and dryer and the training room is where the old coaches’ offices used to be.

“It came out very good,” Ellington said.

Silber also said “tremendous progress” is being made to determine the location and plan of what a possible new stadium would look like.

Beginning next Thursday, Silber will meet with those involved in the discussions to determine the next phase of the proposed stadium plan.