Higher netting protects homes near Okarche baseball field

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Taller poles and higher netting is now protecting the neighboring houses from baseballs at the Okarche High School outfield just in time for the district tournament. (Photo by Superintendent Josh Sumrall)

The new, expanded safety netting has gone up at the baseball field in time for the district tournament.

Construction crews installed the poles Monday, Sept. 23, and the netting was raised Tuesday two days before the district tournament.

When the new baseball and softball fields were built, the netting at the baseball field was supposed to keep home runs and foul balls from hitting houses.

There are about five houses that had been in the range of Okarche Warrior baseballs.

Workers install the poles for the higher netting that went up around the baseball outfield Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 at Okarche High School. (Photo by Superintendent Josh Sumrall)

There have been some wooden fence panels struck by baseballs. No flying glass from windows has been hit and there are no injuries.

But the netting was only 25-feet high. The baseballs clear it often. So, the school board on Monday, Sept. 9, voted unanimously to extend the netting to 60 feet high. It is the same type of netting used at driving range for golf.
Superintendent Josh Sumrall said the stretch of netting needed to protect the homes that will be 60 feet tall will need to be 260 feet long.

The baseball and softball fall season will be over by mid-October. The state tournament ends Oct. 12.
Read The Okarche Warrior for local news and sports coverage.

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