(New Buffalo, MI) - New Buffalo High School has a new baseball field with artificial turf on the infield and grass in the outfield.

 

The field next to the high school is in the same place as the old, all grass field but with home plate where centerfield used to be.

 

Athletic Director Matt Johnson said the artificial surface is billed as the closest thing to playing on grass.  He said crushed limestone was used to create the base of the infield beneath the artificial surface.

 

“It’s the first field of its kind in the State of Michigan,” he said.

 

The grass in the outfield is a special hybrid of Kentucky Bluegrass that’s supposed to hold up well to foot traffic.  Johnson also revealed a 10 year contract was signed for a team in a college baseball summer league to play games at the field throughout the summer.

 

At some point in the future, Johnson said plans call for lights to be installed for night games to be hosted for the first time at any New Buffalo High School field along with a press box and grandstands.

 

“It’ll be a nice little complex when it’s done,” he said.

 

The cost of the new field and future upgrades to the girls’ softball diamond next to it exceeds more than $1 million.

 

The Red Arrow Raiders are the team now after the baseball programs at New Buffalo and River Valley high schools merged before the start of the season.  The Raiders defeated Benton Harbor on Tuesday 17-0 and 17-1.