Diamond Nation’s upgrades and improvements continued apace this week when five new scoreboards were installed and put into operation effective Thursday.

Immaculata’s and Hunterdon Central’s softball teams were the first to experience Diamond Nation’s new scoreboards when the two teams battled on Field 2 yesterday in a Skyland Conference game won by Hunterdon Central, 6-3, in eight innings.

The new scoreboards, on Fields 2-through-6 (Field 7 coming soon), are striking and appealing to the eye and much easier to read from a distance.

“The new scoreboards represent a significant upgrade and, on first look yesterday, we are very happy with the improvements,” said Nick Massari, Diamond Nation’s general manager.

The new scoreboards boast various digital enhancements, including the ability to type in the names of the visitor and home teams, the addition of a game clock and pitch speeds. Massari said final adjustments to incorporate pitch speeds would be completed shortly. The scoreboards, however, are ready to go for the 90-team Memorial Day Blast tournament, which begins today at 4:30 p.m.

The wooden framed structure for the new batting cages can be seen rising at the far end of the facility just beyond Fields 5 and 6. The structure will have space for five separate batting cages.

A new restroom facility is also under construction at the southeast end of the complex. The new batting cages and baseball facility should be completed, according to Massari, in time for the Super 17 Tournament on June 21.

The addition of pitcher walls and upgrades to the bullpens are also complete. The walls allow for the use of plyo balls and have hooks for resistance bands, which aid a pitcher’s ability to get stretched out and loose before entering a game.

“The improvements from last fall and into the spring have gone smoothly, despite material shortages and inflation on certain materials right now,” said Massari. “It’s all been designed with our customers in mind.  We want to give them a fun and unique experience when they come to the park, while also making sure the players are given the best opportunity to succeed on the field,” Massari continued.

Diamond Nation’s newest field, known alternately as Field 7 and Musclelicious Field, rose to completion in October and has seen plenty of action since, including serving as the home field for Immaculata High School’s baseball team. Soon we will have all fields boasting full sponsorships, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, which intends to taking over sponsorship of Field 1 in the very near future.

The umpires’ parking area is undergoing a remodel, too, courtesy of upgrades at the far end of the complex.