Lynwood – Firebaugh High baseball and softball players stood poised around the pitching mound May 30 as they celebrated the grand opening of their new Measure K-funded baseball and softball fields.

The softball field on the Firebaugh High campus and the baseball field on the Lynwood Middle campus received nearly $2 million in renovations, raising field quality to CIF game regulations and reducing the risk of injury to players.

“Our Firebaugh teams can take pride in hosting their own home games and won’t have to travel to neighboring schools as often,” Lynwood Unified Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite said. “These new enhancements support our District’s mission of providing a safe environment for our students to follow their passions – whether they are inside or outside the classroom.”

The baseball field at Lynwood Middle School includes new dugouts, a new backstop, additional paved areas for spectators, batting tunnels and fencing in addition to drought-tolerant grass and regraded, compacted soil under the field to eliminate soft spots.

Firebaugh High’s softball field also receive regraded, compacted soil and drought-tolerant grass as well as a new irrigation system, a new walking track and Southern California’s first removable outfield safety fence, which cradles any player who hits it while chasing down a long hit.

Both fields will also receive consistent maintenance and upkeep from DelTerra, the company behind the design and renovation.

“I remember running around this field when I was in P.E., and we would fall sometimes because of the gopher holes and divots,” Lynwood Unified Board President Alma-Delia Renteria said. “I hope these fields will give our Falcons even more pride in their school and teams for many years to come as they host their own home games on their own turf.”

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060917_LUSD_FIELD: Firebaugh High baseball and softball players stand around the pitching mound May 30 as they celebrate the grand opening of their new Measure K-funded baseball and softball fields. The softball field on the Firebaugh High campus and the baseball field on the Lynwood Middle campus received nearly $2 million in renovations, reducing the risk of injury to students and raising field quality to CIF game regulations.