FIELD OF THE YEAR SCHOOLS AND PARKS BASEBALL
also laser level the infield skin. The mound and plate are clayed, lasered for correct height, and gauged for correct specs. If time and weather allow, we repeat these duties again mid-season.
For turf maintenance I run an IPM program with annual soil tests to determine what the turf and soil need without putting down added chemicals that are not needed and reducing the use of pesticides. We also preform many other cultural practices to open up the turf profile to get water and oxygen down into the root system in conjunction with wetting agents. Incorporating these practices has helped cut costs and the amount of chemicals that are being put in the ground.
SFM: Please tell us about your crew, and anything else you would like us to know about your organization and the fields / facilities that you manage? Trillo: I am most proud of my highly skilled crew; they are true professionals that don’ t cut corners. The effort they put into the job at a high level is the reason Muzzy Field preforms and looks the way that it does. Whether it is applications to the turf, building mounds, laser leveling the infield, or edging the field, they do it with a lot of pride and dedication. The majority of the work is kept in-house to provide new experiences and save money. They have done a phenomenal job on every extra project. I truly appreciate the consistent work performance they achieve every day.
SFM: Can you share a bit of insight into what the Field of the Year application process was like for you, as well as any tips you might have for other sports field managers? Trillo: I feel SFMA’ s PCI sheets are a great tool— in conjunction with detailed records of what is done and applied to the field. I particularly like the field diagram and recording area of the soil moisture levels. Having this information for the FOY application made it so much more convenient. I have also used this information to document our hot spot
14 SportsField Management | June 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com