The Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the AAA Club affiliate of the New York Yankees, are prepped for a “dry” run that will hopefully return the team to the Governors’ Cup finals following a 2009 season that left them wet – both literally and figuratively.

Last year, the Yankees had to contend with a flooded outfield at their home at PNC Field Stadium, which was caused by a drainage system failure. Games had to be postponed or played at other ballparks, thus robbing the Yankees of their home field advantage. In order to make it through the season, holes were drilled into the field and a helicopter was flown in to dry the outfield.

Despite these challenges, the Yankees made it to the International League finals, but they eventually fell to the Durham Bulls.

Now, thanks to a new drainage system and field built by the athletic turf experts at Sports Construction Group, the Yankees are ready to make another championship run – one that they expect will leave their field, and their opponents, high and dry. Despite heavy storms in recent weeks that caused flooding in the Northeast, the new field has drained quickly and completely, as planned.

In a WNEP-TV news report, Stadium Authority Solicitor Frank Tunis said that the field work came in under budget. “Last time the field was done, the field was converted from Astroturf to natural grass, but the drainage system underneath was not replaced. This time was a complete overhaul,” he said.

The Yankees will battle the Buffalo Bisons in their home opener on April 8 at 7:05 p.m.

About SCG
Sports Construction Group is a sports field specialty contractor that handles all phases of natural turf and synthetic turf jobs, from excavation and sub base through installation, replacement and maintenance. SCG has more than 50 years of construction experience, including more than 20 years of expertise building high-performance sports fields.

SCG’s clients include one-fourth of National Football League teams, one-fifth of Major League Baseball teams and scores of top-tier collegiate and high school teams. On the SCG roster are some of the most recognizable sport facilities in the nation: Yankee Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, Progressive Field, Soldier Field, Heinz Field, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Notre Dame Stadium and Northwestern’s Ryan Field, along with dozens of minor league, collegiate, high school and community turf systems. More information is available at www.SCGfields.com.