Photoessay #287 - Shorecrest softball field

The improved softball field at Shorecrest High School. As mentioned in my previous post, I spent many a chilly hour sitting on those bleachers in the center of the shot. The terrain steeply drops right behind the field into an impassable heavily wooded hillside above Hamlin Park and the Fircrest state facility. Any softballs hit foul behind the field disappear into the brushy ravine. I imagine dozens of softballs reside there; don't know if anybody has tried to find them. During chilly evenings, the wind whips over that hill and down into Hamlin, it's COLD. Unlike many high schools, the Shorecrest field has lights so can have evening games. Makes you wonder, why doesn't a major big time Division 1, extremely well-funded program, University of Oregon, have a lighted field? Actually I hear that part of the million dollar contribution that the Oregon AD is giving will go to light the softball field.

Some definite improvements since Susanna graduated there in 2003. Check out the artificial turf infield! How about that? That can really help lessen the inevitable multiple muddy rainouts. Wonder how the players like it? Is this the first year? At the bottom, I have the classic pictures of Sarah B sliding into home on the Shorecrest field in a cloud of dust (probably in 2003). With the dirt infield. All you see is the dust, no player! Taken from behind home plate.

Also the dugouts have been rebuilt and improved. There's even a little area for a concession stand on the left. And real roofs.

Naomi standing there around first base on this late winter afternoon. Perhaps Dennis and I will attend a few games this spring. Things turn over so fast in athletic programs. We probably won't know anybody there.