Adams Field plays big and is a big-time facility

By JAY N. MILLER
For The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY –  For the third time in six years, Quincy will be hosting the Babe Ruth World Series tournament for 14-year-olds, and with all the culture and history this area offers, it wouldn’t be happening without Adams Field, the glistening jewel of the city’s recreational facilities.

With its big league-level dimensions, comfortable seating and proximity to downtown Quincy, Adams Field is one of the prime reasons the national tourney loves to come here.

“You can go to many Division 2 and 3 colleges and not find a nicer field,” said Marshfield High baseball coach Bill Battis, who played on the field and has paid regular visits there with his Rams’ varsity  to play both Quincy and North Quincy. “To get a chance to play on it, especially under the lights at night, is a great experience for high school players, coaches and parents. It’s a beautiful field, and they keep it properly watered and trimmed, so you always get true bounces.”

"You can go to many Division 2 and 3 colleges and not find a nicer field."

“To have a real field, with that kind of atmosphere, right in the middle of the city, is a unique feature for Quincy,” said North Quincy High baseball coach John Fidalgo, who was a Red Raider player five years ago. “And one of the nicest things is that it belongs to all of Quincy – it’s not tied to one high school or the other, and it feels like home to all Quincy kids. As a public school coach, it can be tough to keep your best athletes home and in your program, but having a facility like Adams Field is a huge advantage in that respect.”

“When we’re looking for non-league games, people are jumping at the chance to come here and play on Adams Field,” said Quincy High baseball coach Mike Draicchio. "I think that is the brightest spot of Quincy athletics. I played there in high school and Legion ball myself, and I feel like I’ve been there all my life. But for high school fields, Adams Field is the premier place to be. Now we’re finding colleges like Eastern Nazarene and Suffolk University want to play there as much as they can too.”

“Adams definitely has pro dimensions,” noted Draicchio. “It’s about 325 feet to down the left- and right-field foul lines, with power alleys in left-center and right-center of about 346 and 400 in straight-away center.

“They have also made some major improvements over the past few years, like bullpen areas we now have, and batting cages too. We do not practice there – simply to limit use of the field – but we do have access to the cages and that is an extra attraction. When you add in the concession area, and the press booth, the field really has everything you want.”

“Adams Field does have some pretty good power alleys in left and right-center,” Fidalgo agreed. “That impacts both outfield and infield play, because with a ball in the gap, your infielders have to be ready to go out there and take the relay. But it is maintained so well, if you’re concerned about bunts, the ball comes at you good and fast, because the infield is so well groomed.”

“You do get windy days there,’ said Draicchio, “but not so much in the summer. I’d say the wind factor would be much lower, unless you get a stormy day.”

“With the water right there behind you, there is always wind,” said Fidalgo. “Lately the prevailing wind seems to be to right field, and it doesn’t usually blow to left field. At the high school level that might influence your coaching in a particular game, but I don’t know if we’ll see a 14-year old able to put it out of the park.

“Generally we try to attack the hitters there. You have a big enough outfield that you can put a couple of fast kids out there, and just let them run ’em down.”