With funds raised by LZBSA sponsors and through our annual Hit-A-Thon Fundraiser we were able to perform the following projects:

• Staples Field Lip repairs
• Staples 2 and Staples 5 pitchers mound removal and replacement with fiberglass pitching mounds
• Rework of Lions Park warning track and infield

See the photos below for the improvements made possible by your support!

With cooperation with the Village of Lake Zurich, LZBSA has installed a Thor-Guard Lightning Prediction System (“Thor-Guard System”) at many of our parks and fields.  This system provides lightning prediction capabilities at the following parks:  Staples Sports Complex, Lions Park, Braemar Park, Knox Park and Anderson Field/Chestnut Corner. 

The purpose of this notice is to advise you that although play will be suspended in accordance with warnings generated by the Thor-Guard System, that the system should not be relied upon as the primary method for detecting the presence of lightning in the area.  Instead, our primary method for detecting and taking necessary precautions related to lightning will at all times remain the observations and common sense of our managers, coaches, umpires, parents and fans, and LZBSA’s previously established safety rules following observation of lightning remain in effect.  In other words, the Thor-Guard System is intended to supplement, rather than replace, LZBSA’s current rules regarding lighting safety. 

In order to familiarize you with the operation of the Thor-Guard operation, the system is designed to blast a horn for 15 seconds, and activate a strobe light, when the system predicts the possible presence of lightning.  Once the Thor-Guard System no longer senses conditions conducive to the presence of lightning, it blasts a horn three times (for five second each blast) and the strobe light turns off.  

LZBSA Lightning Policy

When thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.

If thunder is heard or lightning is detected visually OR the Thor-Guard system issues a warning by sounding its horn for 15 seconds, play is to be suspended with players leaving the field of play immediately, taking shelter.  Safe shelter is a vehicle or an enclosed building.  Standing in dugouts or beneath trees is not safe!

If play was stopped by the Thor-Guard warning horn, play can only resume when it issues the all-clear alarm (three 5 second blasts). 

If play was stopped due to thunder or a lightning sighting, AND the Thor-Guard system did not issue an alert, play can resume when no thunder is heard or lightning seen for 30 minutes.  If thunder or lightning occurs again within 30 minutes, the clock starts over.  If thunder or lightning occurs yet again, the game is called.

If after thunder or a sighting of lightning,  the Thor-Guard system then issues a warning (one 15 second blast), play cannot resume until the Thor-Guard system issues the all clear.