By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
As workers complete the finishing touches to the landscaping, parking lot, and softball fields in front of the new Groveport Madison High School, some community members have wondered about the perceived close proximity of one of the softball fields to State Route 317.
Groveport Madison Schools Deputy Superintendent James Grube said the two new softball fields were located with a professional surveyor to align with the site design.
“The softball fields are being installed where they have been shown on the site drawings ever since the site plan was solidified,” said Grube.
Grube said the varsity softball field is the one farthest away from State Route 317 and the junior varsity field is the one closest to the road.
“The outfield fence for the junior varsity field is 190 feet from home plate,” said Grube. “The edge of State Route 317 is about another 50 feet beyond this, or about 240 feet from home plate.”
Grube said a junior varsity softball home run ball traveling 240 feet is not impossible, but it is “very rare.”
“If this proves to be a problem, a section of netting could be added to protect the road from home run balls,” said Grube, who added the district is investigating costs to add the netting to protect balls from reaching State Route 317.
The high school’s original two softball fields were once located behind the old high school and had to be removed when the new high school was built. For the past two seasons the varsity and junior varsity softball teams played their games on the softball fields located at Groveport Elementary. The teams will begin play on the two new softball fields at the high school this spring for the 2019 season.
