This summer, three Ocean City Barons games had to be moved from Carey Stadium to the soccer complex at Tennessee Avenue. The Bermuda Grass that was planted on the field last year does not hold up well in cold weather and was further damaged by the very wet spring and summer. It is sod normally used for high quality lawns and golf courses in the warmer parts of North America.

The field was re-sodded last month and the Barons were able to complete their season, wrapping up by clinching another post-season appearance.

According to sources in the city administration, this new Bermuda Grass should be fine for the 2009 Ocean City High School football season, unless there is a very early frost. But the same situation could occur again next spring, depending on the weather.

Which brings us to the FieldTurf discussion.

There were 136 turf fields in New Jersey at the start of this calendar year – like the one at St. Augustine Prep and non-Cape-Atlantic League schools like Eastern, Washington Township, St. John Vianney, Shawnee and Bishop Eustace. The surface is also used in the state at Princeton, Rutgers, Monmouth and at Giants Stadium. This summer, turf fields are being installed at Egg Harbor Township and Cherokee high schools. The conversion was voted down in a bond issue by Mainland voters. Cherokee raised the money through private contributions.

That is a big part of the problem – the cost. It is around $500,000 to install FieldTurf on a football field. It needs to be replaced in 10-12 years, depending on use. It is like playing on grass except it drains almost immediately and can be used almost constantly. All you have to do is not stick anything into it (goal posts and soccer-like goals must be weighted down) and minimize chewing gum on the surface.

If there is any high school type facility that should have FieldTurf it is Carey Stadium. Not only can the high school football team use it but OCHS has among the best soccer and field hockey programs in South Jersey. Those teams could play some games there. And, of course, there are the Barons.

FieldTurf at Carey Stadium would also open the door to more uses. Bring back the Drum & Bugle Competition. More opportunities for rugby and lacrosse. There are many possibilities.

There have been discussions about FieldTurf between the city and the school district, who share the operations of the field, in the past. And it seems likely that they will talk about it again in the future. It is an expensive step but, handled properly, it could come close to paying for itself.

---------------------------------------------------

Two weeks ago the NJSIAA announced its competition groups for the 2009-10 school year. Only Cape May Tech changes groups among Cape-Atlantic League schools, moving up to Group 2 in every sport except cross country. Last week, they announced the football only groupings, which are frequently different because not every school has a football program.

Among the differences – Cherry Hill West, Clearview, Triton and Winslow Township – all up in Group 4 for most sports, will compete in Group 3 for football. Delsea, Lower Cape May and Point Pleasant Boro, Group 3 schools in most sports, will be in Group 2 for football.

A number of teams – including Pennsauken, Rancocas Valley, Toms River North, Willingboro and Delran – are in Central Jersey for most sports but move to South Jersey for football.

There will also be a new point system to determine which eight schools qualify for the NJSIAA playoffs in each group. Basically, a team will get more points for playing teams with good records, rather than teams with large enrollments. And a team will benefit from the strength of its overall schedule, not just from the strength of the teams it defeats.

---------------------------------------------------

Harry Vanderslice is not sure, but he thinks the baseball fields used by the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association at 35th Street might be haunted.

The Red Sox team he coached in this year’s OCYAA minor league, which included his son, Cole, was trailing the Yankees, 5-0, after one inning in the deciding game of their semifinal series. Then Harry silently asked for help from his dad, Harry, for whom the fields are named as a memorial tribute. Boom! The Sox scored five runs to tie the score and eventually won the game, 10-9.

Then, in the finals, the Indians built a 3-0 early lead in game two. But the Spirit of Big Bear came alive again and the Sox scored four times, eventually winning the game and the championship, 7-5.

So, if you’re hanging around 35th Street and a mysterious voice tries to sell you a new set of tires, you’ll know what’s going on.