High School Softball Diamond Upgrades Could Cost Racine Unified

New WIAA softball diamond rules could require Racine Unified to lay down some serious money to improve fields throughout the district.

The National Federation of State High Schools Association and WIAA regulation change coming down the pike requires all varsity softball games to be held on fields with outfield fences at 185 to 235 feet from home plate.

Only the fields at J.I. Case High School meet those regulations.

"The rule is you have to have an outfield fence between 185 and 235 feet. Currently, only Case's field meets this," said Stacy Tapp, communications director for the district. "We have not yet determined next steps or what this might cost."

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RUSD isn't the only district in Southeast Wisconsin affected. Greenfield currently plays its high school softball games at Konkel Park, where permanent chain-link fences are set at 300 feet. Temporary fences at shorter distances have been put up in order for Greenfield to host WIAA tournament games, which already fall under the fence rule.

The Greenfield School District in order for the Greenfield High School team to host games as soon as 2014. A scoreboard, fan seating and improved dugouts are just some of the amenities the diamond needs before the Hustlin’ Hawks could have home games at the high school.