Field conversion to football underway

With only 17 days between the end of the Zephyrs' baseball season and the first-ever high school football game at Zephyr Field, the groundskeeping crew has a small window to convert the Shrine on Airline from a "field of dreams" to "Friday night lights."

Barely more than 24 hours after the Z's season was complete, head groundskeeper Thomas Marks already had taken out the visitors' bullpen down the left field line, where one of the football teams will be located during games.

Additionally, nine-foot holes were dug and then filled with cement to provide the foundations for goalposts along the warning track in left field and in front of the first base dugout.

The following day, Marks deconstructed the pitchers mound in the infield, removing "somewhere between five to six tons of dirt," according to Marks.

Next week, the markers for a football field will be laid out, and in the week leading up to the game, temporary bleachers will be placed in the outfield grass and the goalposts will be installed ahead of the September 23 meeting between John Curtis and Brother Martin, to be nationally televised on ESPNU.

Hospitality areas, including suites and the left field porch, are still available for rental during select games. For more information, contact the Zephyrs at (504) 734-5155.

The complete schedule:

Friday, September 23 (7 PM): Brother Martin at John Curtis
Friday, October 7 (7 PM): Holy Cross at Rummel
Friday, October 14 (7 PM): Brother Martin at Holy Cross
Friday, October 21 (7 PM): Holy Cross at John Curtis
Saturday, October 22 (7 PM): Archbishop Shaw at Jesuit
Friday, October 28 (7 PM): St. Augustine at Holy Cross
Thursday, November 3 (7:30 PM): Archbishop Shaw at John Curtis
Friday, November 4 (7 PM): Jesuit at Brother Martin