As the newest high school in the Trinity League, JSerra still gets excited about new things.
The Lions upgraded their football field over the spring and summer so they could become the first Trinity League school from Orange County to host varsity games on campus.
JSerra can now boast of something else unique to the Trinity League, a completely renovated baseball field with features unlike any other.
The natural grass in the infield and outfield was replaced by AstroTurf, which will require less manpower and lower maintenance costs while improving the overall appearance and playability.
Mater Dei also has a baseball field decked out with artificial grass, but JSerra has taken the extra step of covering their pitching mound with synthetic turf as well, allowing for consistent footing and deliveries.
“I know a lot of people may not like this as a baseball purist,” JSerra Coach Brett Kay told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m a baseball purist as well. I think this is the best field in the nation.”
Another aspect that should immediately stand out when spectators first arrive is a much clearer view of the field.
Kay took the unusual step of removing the traditional backstop and the 13 poles that supported the structure. All that separates viewers from the game action is black netting. The less-obstructed view will make spectators feel much more part of the game.
The new field should be a big hit when the Lions host one of the highest-profile high school baseball tournaments in the country again next spring. The sixth annual Boras Classic is set to begin on March 26 at JSerra, Mater Dei and El Dorado Hills in Northern California.
The 32-team field will include JSerra, Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran from the Trinity League, as well as other powerful teams and elite players from Orange County and beyond.
The tournament has typically served as a showcase for highly ranked seniors who are expected to be taken highly in the upcoming draft. Of course, the Lions had a top prospect playing shortstop for them last season, and Royce Lewis was taken first overall by the Minnesota Twins in June.
The highest-ranked player in the Trinity League this season is right-handed pitcher Cole Winn of Orange Lutheran, and he should draw plenty of attention at the Boras Classic. Winn, who has committed to play baseball at Mississippi State, was recently ranked as the 16th-best high school draft prospect in the class of 2018 by Baseball America.
The player ranked No. 2 on that list, shortstop Brice Turang of Santiago High School in Corona, will also have a chance to display his talents at the Boras Classic next spring.
“Going into our sixth year, I believe we have hit our stride, and have the best field of teams to date competing against each other to showcase their skills to both collegiate coaches and MLB scouts,” said Scott Boras, who is the Director of The Boras Foundation, in a release. “Having 15 players drafted in the 2017 class shows the caliber of talent and platform for each player to further pursue their careers in baseball.”
Thanks to JSerra, these top-notch teams and players will have a chance to display their skills on an equally top-notch field.