INDUSTRY NEWS two playoff games in Toyota Field history while keeping a cool head throughout the most stressful situations during the season .
“ To win something like this takes a great group of people around you . I would not be able to do anything like this if it wasn ’ t for Colby , our game day staff , the support of our front office , and especially my wife ,” Weaver said . “ This should be a grounds crew of the year award , because without everyone else , none of this would be possible .”
Around the Trash Pandas ’ home schedule , Toyota Field hosted many other events in 2022 including high school and college baseball , concerts , youth baseball camps , and even a Division I College Football game in October . Throughout all of that , the grounds crew kept the field in top shape , making sure players and fans had the best experience possible at the ballpark . Weaver earned the award by constantly being ranked among the best in baseball by his peers . In surveys conducted throughout the Southern League , the playing surface at Toyota Field is called the best in the circuit . Weaver ’ s field received the highest praise in each category including infield and outfield turf areas , player safety , professionalism of crew , and handling of weather conditions , which can be especially tough throughout rainy Alabama summers .
2022 Minor League Baseball Groundskeepers of the Year : Charlie Weaver , League and Overall Groundskeeper of the Year , ( Rocket City Trash Pandas , Southern League ) Kyle Calhoon ( Hartford Yard Goats , Eastern League ) John Packer ( Carolina Mudcats , Carolina League ) Pat Skunda ( Dunedin Blue Jays , Florida State League ) Ben Hartman ( Wichita Wind Surge , Texas League ) Mitch Hooten ( West Michigan Whitecaps ,
Midwest League ) Greg Burgess ( Greenville Drive , South Atlantic League ) Matt Parrott ( Charlotte Knights , International League ) Isaiah Lineau ( Las Vegas Aviators , Pacific Coast League ) David Jacinto ( Fresno Grizzlies , California League ) Sam King ( Hillsboro Hops , Northwest League )
Louisville City FC ’ s Aaron Fink voted USL Groundskeeper of the Year
The United Soccer League ( USL ) announced that Louisville City FC ’ s Aaron Fink was named the 2022 USL Groundskeeper of the Year presented by Brandt . Fink and his grounds staff at Lynn Family Stadium are the inaugural winners of the award .
As part of the award , Fink and one of his staff will receive a trip to the 2023 Sports Field Management Association Conference , courtesy of Brandt , January 16-19 in Salt Lake City , Utah .
“ On behalf of Brandt , we ’ re excited to present this award to Aaron Fink and his crew at Louisville City ,” said Karl Barnhart , chief marketing officer at Brandt . “ Great sports field maintenance goes beyond providing luscious looking fields on game day ; it ’ s about ensuring the turfgrass is healthy and safe all year long to help reduce risks to the players and increase the level of play .”
“ A lot of times we don ’ t get recognized for what we do unless we ’ re the ones screwing up , so I think it ’ s an awesome opportunity for our team to get acknowledged for hard work ,” said Fink . “ When I told the guys about this , I thought back to two times this year they really earned it . The first game of the year , we were shoveling snow off the field . Then in mid-July , we had the USL Summer Showcase here when it was 100 degrees out . Those spots epitomized this year when the team was willing to do hard work in some harsh conditions . This is a group award , in my opinion . There ’ s not one person who won that award .”
Fink is joined in the Lynn Family Stadium groundskeeping staff by three full-time staff – Darrell Clark , assistant groundskeeper ; Matt Skidmore , head groundskeeper at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center ; and J . R . Williams , assistant groundskeeper at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center ; along with two interns – Nolan Dumstorf and Michael Netherton .
Both Lynn Family Stadium and the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center utilize the same Tahoma 31 bermudagrass , and Fink ’ s staff use Brandt ’ s Parco-Root and MegAleX to help maintain the natural playing surfaces .
“ Parco-Root helps the rooting around the field , and MegAleX helps us get through stressful periods ,” said Fink . “ Both are used spring through fall at the stadium and training facility fields .”
Voting for the 2022 USL Groundskeeper of the Year award presented by Brandt was conducted among players , technical staffs , and coaching staffs in both the USL Championship and USL League One .
sportsfieldmanagementonline . com January 2023 | SportsField Management
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