Jim McHale, who coaches the Johnston Recreation All-Girls U-10 softball team, didn't kick back this past Saturday. Instead, he and his co-workers Rick Carlson and Chris Wilson from Fleet Construction in Cumberland, along with Chad Gendron – an operating engineer apprentice from Local 57 – volunteered their time to renovate Woodlake Field III for the upcoming softball season.

"Mayor Polisena was talking about all the volunteer work being done at the new soccer fields," explained McHale, "and I said we can do something with Woodlake Field – it is always a mess.”

Part of the problem, McHale went on to say, is when it rains the water puddles on the field, creating rain delays for the softball teams, as well as the T-ball teams that also use the field. The renovations are hoped to help with that.

To even the fields, Fleet Construction owner Peter Calcagni lent the volunteers specialized equipment – a laser grader. The laser grader gives the field a smooth surface and can be set to a precise grade to allow rain to flow off the field.

Ten years ago, McHale recalled, the procedure to smooth a field was done manually by workers using string. The process was also much more time-consuming. Now, the job can be done in half the time.

Apart from leaving fewer places for water to collect, the smoother surface is safer for players and lets them play a more accurate game since the ball is less likely to roll erratically.

McHale credited Johnston Parks and Recreation Director Dan Mazzulla Jr. and apprentice training manager Chris Tremell for their contributions to the project. Mazzulla provided the infield mix for the field and Tremell, whose office is nearby, pitched in with the work.

The softball teams will not have to wait long to test their new playing field; at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Woodlake, the Johnston Recreation Girls Softball season swings into action.