FIELD OF THE YEAR SCHOOLS AND PARKS SOFTBALL
LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
The Field of the Year Awards program is made possible by the support of sponsors Carolina Green, World Class Athletic Surfaces and EPS.
WARRIOR SOFTBALL FIELD HAS become one of the premier high school softball fields in the state, thanks to its exceptional turfgrass quality and a consistent, detailed, year-round maintenance program. Over the past three years, the field has undergone several needed transformations, addressing major challenges such as poor surface drainage, loose soil structure, and turf health issues that restricted its ability to maintain a consistent, playable surface throughout an entire season. Today, this field offers both players and coaches a safe, consistent and visually appealing playing surface for practices and games. What truly sets Warrior Softball Field apart is its commitment to building a resilient foundation with superior playability and outstanding aesthetics. The surface now performs at an elite level, capable of handling heavy use throughout the season without sacrificing its integrity or consistency. This durability is the result of intentional, long-term planning and a deep understanding of turfgrass management. The field’ s smooth transitions between the turfgrass and infield skin provide reliable footing, contributing to a playing surface rarely matched by other high school natural turfgrass fields. The upgraded and detailed maintenance program has been instrumental in achieving and sustaining this quality. Routine practices are performed consistently, including soil testing, mowing at proper heights, edging to maintain smooth transitions from dirt to grass, and spraying to manage pests and disease. Overseeding and aeration are scheduled with intentionality to promote root development and soil health, supported by a balanced fertilization plan to ensure consistent soil quality and proper nutrients throughout each season. Verticutting, rolling, and regular infield grooming practices enhance the playing surface, while effective weed control preserves the overall health of the turfgrass. The success of the field is also a reflection of the unwavering support and collaboration of the Little Rock Christian Academy administration, coaching staff and community. Their shared vision for excellence, along with the resources and trust provided to the maintenance team, has allowed for the implementation of advanced strategies that have transformed Warrior Softball Field into what it is today.
– Ryan Smith, high school teacher / baseball coach
Level and category of submission: Schools and Parks Softball
Field manager: Ryan Smith
Title: High School Teacher / Baseball Coach
Education: Master’ s degree Education, Kinesiology
Original facility construction: 2009
Turfgrass: Celebration bermuda
Overseed: Every fall the field is overseeded with 600 pounds of Champion GQ( ryegrass) at 19 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
Rootzone: Sandy loam
Soil amendments: Lime
SportsField Management( SFM): What are you most proud of with this win? Ryan Smith: I’ m most proud of how far this field has come over the past three years. When I first got to Little Rock Christian Academy, we had real drainage problems, the turf wasn’ t healthy, and playability needed a lot of work. There wasn’ t one big fix that solved it. It came from showing up every day and sticking with small improvements that, over time, added up to something significant.
I’ m also proud we did this without a big budget or a big crew. This award feels like recognition that good planning, attention to detail, and making the most of what we have goes a long way.
SFM: What were the biggest challenges you have faced with the winning field, and how have you approached those challenges? Smith: The biggest challenge has been keeping turf quality and performance high with limited resources, and dealing with whatever the weather throws at us each year. We’ ve worked through drainage issues, built up soil health, managed heavy use, and dealt with the demands of overseeding every fall.
Our approach has been consistency over quick fixes. We rely on soil testing, a solid fertility program, careful moisture management, and good cultural practices applied day in and day out. In my experience, real progress comes from steady, incremental work rather than one big solution, and that’ s what has made all the difference.
SFM: Can you share a little about your overall management approach to the winning field and what you feel have been the most important aspects to getting this field to an award-winning level? Smith: My management approach starts with player safety and strong aesthetics. Every decision I make about this field— whether it’ s mowing height, irrigation, or how hard we push the turf— comes back to giving our student-athletes a surface that’ s safe; plays consistently; and looks exceptional for the players, coaches and fans.
If I had to point to the most important factors, I’ d say consistency, attention to detail, and having a long-term plan instead of just reacting day to day( which sometimes you have to). Proper mowing, moisture management, fertility and infield conditioning all play a part, and none of it works without doing it the same way, every day, over time.
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? Smith: Our crew is small, so teamwork matters a lot. I’ m fortunate to work alongside people who take real pride in this facility and understand what a well-maintained field means to the kids who use it. Their commitment is a big part of why we’ ve been able to maintain this standard.
I’ d also add that Little Rock Christian Academy puts real value on excellence in everything we do, and that extends to how the school supports our facilities. We see the athletic fields as part of the educational experience these students get, and we try to maintain them with that in mind.
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? Smith: The application process turned out to be a genuinely valuable exercise. In this line of work you’ re usually focused on the next task in front of you, so taking the time to step back and document everything we had done over the year gave me a clearer picture of our progress than I expected going in.
My main piece of advice is to keep good records and take photos consistently throughout the year, not just when something looks award-worthy. Documenting your maintenance practices, the challenges you ran into, and the before-and-after results makes the application process a lot easier and helps tell the full story of the work.
I’ d also encourage other field managers not to let a smaller budget hold them back from applying. These awards recognize professionalism, consistency, and good stewardship just as much as resources. Every field has a story worth telling.