The Southfield Varsity Baseball field is going to look awfully different in 2015. The two most notable changes are the new red dirt in the infield and the absence of Coach Steve Sharp, who retired after 40 years.
Replacing the moustached man will be Andrew Green, the former Junior Varsity baseball coach, and Jamie Glinz, the former Varsity Softball coach.
Coach Green, a first-year varsity coach, says, “There’s brand new college-ready dirt on the infield to replace the grey dirt that was down for softball.”

The red dirt is supposed to improve footing and ball bounce, as well as dry faster and provide a more consistent playing surface, Green said.

Senior Corry Oliver, who is captain of the Baseball team and the starting pitcher and center midfielder for the team, says, he looks forward to playing on a real field. “It’s going to be a good year, and we’re going to beat University of Detroit Jesuit High School.”

U of D is a known rival for the Southfield Blue Jays baseball team. U of D has knocked Southfield out of the playoffs for the last 3 years.
It’s Oliver last season with the Blue Jays and with no college offers yet, he says, “I’ve got to make the best of it. This is my last chance to show those scouts what they would be missing.”
Also new this season for the baseball team are the uniforms. Teammate Sharod Bridges says the team can’t wait to put the new uniforms on display and to get them nice and dirty.
Bridges says, “I feel good about our new team. A lot of seniors are coming back, and the younger players have a lot talent.”
Plans to resurface the girls’ softball diamond are on the agenda for next year, said Green. “It’s a step-by-step process,” that involves fund-raising, he said.
The boys’ varsity baseball diamond was tackled first because it was in worse shape and needed the facelift more than the girls’ diamond, Green said.