Athletic Field Pros out of New Castle was working at Betts Jackson Little League field on Ludlow Street in Warren on Tuesday and work is expected to be finished today.

“The entire surface of the infield is being refurbished,” Warren County Youth Baseball and Softball Association President Jeremy Wyman said. “New dirt, conditioner, clay batters boxes, and pro-style bases.”

That effort has been in the works for about two years — COVID shut the project down in 2020.

But the need has been there for much longer.

“The refurbishment is necessary due to years of neglect and improper care of the infield,” Wyman said. “This caused the infield to be (not) level and water pooled in various spots throughout the infield causing issues with drainage and playability.”

On Tuesday, Foreman Shane Pfeuffer of AFP was grading the surface.

“The crew will be spreading the new surface out and then laser grading it to eliminate standing water on the field,” Wyman said.

Once the new surface is in place, the details will be installed.

“There will be new bases installed with the project,” Wyman said. “The field will have 60-foot and 70-foot bases so all of our divisions can utilize the field.”

Times Observer Photos by Brian Ferry The infield at Betts Jackson Field in Warren will be game-ready by the end of today, but will not be used for a week to “allow the infield to set correctly.”

With multiple divisions and base paths, the distance from the mound to home plate will also have to be flexible.

“There will be a portable mound placed on the field as well to accommodate the different pitching distances for baseball,” Wyman said. “The mound can easily be removed by two people to accommodate the softball games.”

The new backstop screen will arrive later this week, he said.

There are no games nor practices in the next few days.

Pfeuffer said the infield will be game-ready when he leaves on today, but the field should not be used right away.

Wyman said the field will not be used for a week “to allow the infield to set correctly.”

“The WCYBSA was able to secure a grant from the Pittsburgh Pirates Fields for Kids grant program, a sizable donation from the Betts Foundation, a donation from Sheetz, and funds from the WCYBSA raffle fundraiser as well,” Wyman said. “There will be some other work done to Betts Jackson in the fall that includes a new sign recognizing all the donors, some work to the batting cages, and also the T-ball field at the other end of the complex.”

“We’re hoping to continue with refurbishing the WCYBSA fields at Farm Colony in the near future as well now that we have a lease agreement with the county for that site,” he said. “Once the WCYBSA completes these projects, I would like to work with the municipalities throughout the county to obtain funding for repairs to be performed to the other fields utilized by the league throughout the county.”