BASEBALL
A visit was made to Cipperly Field in mid-September 2025, one-year after renovation. Morvay and I estimated annual bluegrass control was > 95 % throughout the outfield. Additional ethofumesate applications were made in mid-October and mid-November 2025 for control of any new annual bluegrass emergence. The status of annual bluegrass incursion as of the writing of this article? So far, so good. What will be the next chapter in the storied history of Cipperly Field? Stay tuned.
Three applications of ethofumesate were made at 30-day intervals in autumn 2024 following perennial ryegrass seeding in late August. Uniform perennial ryegrass cover was observed in the outfield approximately 1 year after seeding( image taken on September 18, 2025); annual bluegrass control was estimated to be > 95 %.
development was rapid during late summer and early autumn; the first mow occurred on the new outfield surface on September 16, 2024. Three applications of ethofumesate( Prograss 1.5 EC; 170 fl. oz./ acre) were made in October, November and December roughly 30 days apart. Application and seeding deadlines were met within a day or two of intended targets and Cipperly Field, as in previous years, successfully hosted the GMC high school baseball tournament semifinals and final over Memorial Day weekend, 2025.
Author’ s note: Raymond J. Cipperly Field has served as a case study on many levels: Field upgrades, skin surface material selection and management, annual bluegrass control, the list goes on. The success of the field continues to demonstrate the importance of trained sports field managers with a vested interest in maintaining and improving their playing surfaces and the ongoing commitment on the part of Middlesex County Magnet Schools to invest in sports field management personnel with advanced training and experience.
Bradley S. Park is research and outreach agronomist, Rutgers University; a member of the Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey( SFMANJ) Board of Directors since 2003; SFMANJ Historian; and recipient of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association Recognition Award( 2016) and SFMA Dr. William H. Daniel Founders Award( 2024). He can be reached via email at bradley. s. park @ rutgers. edu
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Park, B. S., Elmore, M. T. and Murphy, J. A. 2019. Using herbicides and perennial ryegrass to renovate turf dominated by annual bluegrass. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt. 5: 1-7 190005. https:/ doi. org / 10.2134 / cftm2019.01.0005
Renney, A. J. 1964. Preventing Poa annua infestations. 18th Annual Northwest Turfgrass Conf. Proc. pp. 3-5.
SportsField Management. 2021. Field of the Year School and Parks Baseball: Ray Cipperly Memorial Baseball Field. SportsField Mgmt. 37( 4) 10-12,14-16.
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Tufaro, G.( 2016, May 18). Ceremony dedicating“ Field that Ray Built” honor Cipperly. Mycentraljersey. https:/ www. mycentraljersey. com / story / sports / high-school / baseball / 2016 / 05 / 18 / ceremonydedicating-field-ray-built-honors-cipperly / 84533352 /
Tufaro, G.( 2020, December 2). East Brunswick Tech baseball diamond named nation’ s best. Mycentraljersey. com. https:/ www. mycentraljersey. com / story / sports / high-school / baseball / 2020 / 12 / 02 / east-brunswick-tech-baseball-diamond-named-nationsbest / 3793169001 /
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