Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

Andrew Akerolik takes the first swing of the new season as catcher Germaine Tatty and umpire Robert Connelly wait for the result during play in the Rankin Inlet Coed Softball League earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

RANKIN INLET
The results are in after two weeks of play for the Rankin Inlet Co-ed Softball League and the new artificial turf on the local ball diamond's infield is getting rave reviews.

M&T second baseman Robert Kabvitok said it's great to be able field ground balls without having to worry about bad bounces, or a hail of rocks flying up and getting you in the face.

He said while players are still adjusting to the turf's bounciness, it's a welcome improvement over the old and unpredictable gravel infield.

"I just love the new turf," said Kabvitok.

"You have more control when you're running the bases, and you don't have to worry about all those crazy bounces when the ball is hit to you.

"The turf is helping improve the quality of play in the league, but, being new, players are still adjusting to how artificial turf plays.

"The ball tends to stay down more on grass or sand, but comes up nicely on artificial turf, and it gets to you a whole lot faster too."

Kabvitok said a number of infielders are now diving for balls and more runners are sliding into the bases.

He said the turf has provided a better, and safer, environment for a good game of softball.

"There's been some good slides into second base and there weren't any complaints from the players.

"It's not like before, when you'd hear the runners groan while getting up after sliding on the gravel.

"The turf is going to add a lot to the Calm Air Cup, and I'm sure players from other communities will love it."

The Calm Air Cup is scheduled for Aug 10 to 12.

Pitcher Hamish Tatty said he also loves playing on the new artificial turf.

He said although the turf has many advantages to it, the biggest one, as far as he's concerned, is the level of safety it's added.

"I've seen the ball bounce up on the old gravel infield and get someone right in the face or around the head area too many times in the past," said Tatty.

"The worst was about five or six years ago when a bad bounce got a player right in the face and they had to be medevaced out with a fractured orbital bone.

"It's nice to be able to play ball and not have to worry about that happening all the time."

Tatty said the level of play will steadily get better in the league as players adjust to the artificial turf. He said it's a big improvement for the infielders because the path of ground balls is getting predictable now.

"When we had the old gravel infield, you never really knew which way the ball was going to go.

"It's good to see the players be able to play without being scared of grounders now.

"As far as I'm concerned, the artificial turf is money well spent."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.