FIELD OF THE YEAR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
SFM : What are the biggest challenges you have faced with the winning field , and how have you approached those challenges ? Hooten : Since arriving in 2017 , the water retention within the field has been the biggest challenge . We knew back at the beginning that the organic material in the field was high , and we had an odd layer of material 7 to 10 inches below the surface of the field ; so , we quickly established an intense aerification / topdressing program to mitigate the problem . After a few years , we noticed that the water issues weren ’ t getting much better . In fact , we were seeing higher levels of moisture within the field and an increase in Pythium , particularly in the left field . We needed to look deeper at the material we always knew existed further down . In the fall of 2022 , we looked further down into the rootzone and discovered that the material that was at the 7-10-inch mark was an iron-cemented layer that had been forming from when the field was put in during the 1990s . From then on , we increased our deep tine aerification with our continued aerification / topdressing program , changed our fungicide program , and added soil sensors in coordination with our regular TDR readings ( at 3 inches and 8 inches ) to keep our moisture levels at a very even line throughout the year . Toward the second half of last season , we saw a change in the right direction when it came to plant health and damage control of the field . Moving into this year ’ s season we are going to a stronger prevention program for Pythium , more soil sensors to understand
what is going on further into the field , and we have added another full deep tine aerification to break up that ironcement layer that causes so many of our issues .
SFM : Tell us about your crew , and anything else you would like us to know about your organization and the fields / facilities that you manage ? Hooten : The crew this year was amazing and went above and beyond what was asked of them . My assistants deserve this award more than anything — Logan Complo , Rick Krampe , George Cutler , Kent Bollinger , Carson Jarecki , and our intern from Michigan State University , Tristin Ziola . The game day crew was on a totally new level this year , and they deserve this award just as much as the assistants . Through the hard work , long hours and stressful situations , they took everything in stride and excelled far more than I could have ever anticipated . I could not be any prouder of the men and women of this crew .
I would also like to thank SFMA for this award and the Awards Committee for voting for us this year . I know that are others who applied for the award who were just as deserving . I also would like to thank all the people who helped manage this field . It takes a village to maintain LMCU Ballpark at the highest level . Steve Lord , Brad Fry , Josh Teitsma , Ryan Baumbach , Matt Byma , Jim Jarecki , Jake Tyler and Luke Yoder have helped tremendously throughout this year , and years past , to make LMCU Ballpark what it is today . SFM
16 SportsField Management | March 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com