MLB grounds pros transform battered high school field into a gem

28 Jan, 2009 Athletic Turf News

Larry DiVito, grounds pro for the MLB Washington Nationals, got a chance to help rebuild the field where he played baseball as a high schooler in Redwood City, CA.

SAN JOSE, CA — More than two dozen Major League Baseball (MLB) groundskeepers made the trip here in January to learn and improve their technical skills during the 20 th Annual Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA). Immediately following

that conference many stayed, and were joined by colleagues, and participated in the 11th Annual MLB Groundskeepers Conference. In all, about 45 groundskeepers, representing 23 MLB teams enjoyed meeting and working in the beautiful Silicon Valley weather.

This event focuses on baseball field maintenance, with special attention on "dirt" infields where 75% of the action takes place. This special conference continues to grow in popularity, offering MLB grounds pros, including assistants, a fun opportunity to network, swap stories and compare programs.

Dr. Andy McNitt, Penn State University, and Dr. Michael Goatley, Jr., Virginia Tech, offered presentations to this year's event. Special guests were Bob Watson, MLB Vice President of On-Field Operations, and Bob Rose, Director of Public Relations for the Oakland Athletics.

The conference, sponsored by The Toro Company, Covermaster and Turface Athletics, concluded with a field day Jan. 19 to renovate Sequoia High School in Redwood City, CA.

"We received an e-mail from Larry DiVito, head groundskeeper for the Washington Nationals, that we were selected for the field rebuild," said Tink Reynoso, Sequoia High School baseball coach. "In addition to the MLB groundskeepers, about 100 people from the community came out to help, including our alumni association. The improvements to our baseball field are unbelievable. We now have a baseball field above the level of most colleges. It's a dream come true."

The grounds pros rebuilt the pitcher's mound, bullpen and batter's box; mowed and edged the turf; dragged the infield; and incorporated field conditioner into the playing surfaces.

The Sequoia High School field needed serious help.

A dedication ceremony took place at the school on Monday, January 19, 2009. DiVito, an alumnus of Sequoia High School, threw out the ceremonial first pitch followed by a one-inning exhibition by Sequoia's varsity team.

Reynoso mentioned that DiVito presented information to his entire baseball team on how to maintain the field. Representatives from the Seattle Mariners also held on-field classes on how to take care of the pitcher's mound.

"It was great to see all the MLB groundskeepers work together to provide the community and Sequoia High School with a first-class field," said Boyd Montgomery, CSFM, CSE, and commercial district sales manager for The Toro Company. "It was especially nice to see one of MLB's own groundskeepers giving back to his old community. Larry DiVito, head groundskeeper for the Washington Nationals, grew up in the area, attended Sequoia and played baseball on this very same field."

After the MLB pros got done on Jan. 19, the field was one of the nicest in Northern California.

Renovation was funded by a $40,000 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and through equipment, material and labor donations from the MLB groundskeepers, The Toro Company, Turface Athletics, Covermaster, Inc, Colony "Baseball Tomorrow Fund and its executive director , Cathy Bradley, should be commended for stepping up and supporting this event," added Montgomery. "And thanks to Luke Yoder, the San Diego Padres' head groundskeeper, who did an outstanding job coordinating." Yoder spearheaded the entire endeavor that began back in August of 2008.

"This has become somewhat of a tradition at the MLB Groundskeepers Conference," explained Joe Betulius, vice president of sales for Profile Products. "We had an incredible amount of support this year from groundskeepers, corporate sponsors and a large financial contribution from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. Without a doubt, the Major League groundskeepers are remarkable in their skills and they left an enduring legacy for the San Jose community and Sequoia High School baseball.

Toro provided use of a Toro Greensmaster 1600, Toro Workman utility vehicle, Toro Line Painter, and a Toro Infield Pro with attachments for skinned surface maintenance. Turface Athletics provided Turface soil conditioner and mound clays, and

Covermaster donated sports surface covers.

About the Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is designed to promote and enhance the growth of baseball and softball throughout the world, by funding programs, field improvement and equipment purchases to encourage and maintain youth participation in baseball and softball. Since its inception in 1999, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded grants totaling more than $14 million, benefiting nearly 170,000 youth participating in more than 380 youth baseball and softball programs across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. The Baseball Tomorrow Fund conducts an extensive review process of the approximate 500 applications received annually and awards grants to less than ten percent of the requests. For more information, visit www.baseballtomorrowfund.com .

Even the high school field's bullpen got a makeover.

"Hey, we're almost done!" MLB grounds pros from across the nation enjoyed the mid-winter work break at Sequoia High School near San Jose, CA.

When the work was done and the field was ready for play, the school rededicated the field with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The MLB grounds professionals call it a day with a group picture.

The high school baseball team, in full uniform, are eager to get on the field and start playing.

Bookmark it: digg del.icio.us technorati yahoo facebook twitter

Add Comment