BASEBALL
By John Kmitta
Photo by Matt Duncan he 2025 Little League Baseball World Series( LLBWS) was held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 13-24. The event featured 10 teams from the United States and 10 teams from other countries.
Rob Guthrie, head of turf and groundskeeping for Little League, maintains both Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium. Both are Kentucky bluegrass and have full irrigation and drainage.
“ On property we have three additional practice fields— two full-sized Little League fields and one that is just an infield with no outfield,” said Guthrie.“ We have a pitching station and an indoor batting cage on site. Across the street, in a local park, we also maintain two municipal baseball fields.”
Guthrie receives help from a full-time employee during the year. In mid-May he is joined by two interns for the summer( usually through the conclusion of the LLBWS). Then, three days prior to the first LLBWS game, volunteers arrive to help with the tournament.
“ They come in from throughout the country, and some have been doing it for almost 30 years,” said Guthrie.“ The volunteers are a great group, and the fact that so many have been doing this for a long time is nice for me because they already know what to do.”
The volunteers are organized by former Penn State University Senior Extension Educator( retired), Jeff Fowler, on behalf of the Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization( KAFMO).
“ Rob Guthrie does a phenomenal job of preparing those fields year round,” said Fowler.“ All of us as volunteers are there to do one thing, and that’ s to help him shine for the 36 games of the series.”
Said Guthrie,“ I’ d like to think I have a pretty good feel for how the fields are going to act. The big thing is knowing what you’ re getting into, knowing when to do things at certain times, and knowing what to have done prior to anybody showing up for the World Series. I think I have a pretty good routine now.”
36 SportsField Management | October 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com