Sports Turf Managers Association Members Prepare Field for Second Little League Classic

Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – comprised of more than 2,700 professionals overseeing sports fields worldwide celebrates its members for their preparation and maintenance of BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., in anticipation of the second Major League Baseball (MLB) Little League Classic.

BrightView, the nation’s leading landscape services company and a sports turf consultant to Major League Baseball, employs STMA members responsible for the field preparation at Historic Bowman Field. Beginning Aug. 13, and for the second year in a row, BrightView’s Development and Sports Turf teams will prepare the field by putting down new conditioner products on the infield skin, painting logos, perfecting edges in the infield and warning track and ensuring the home plate area and pitcher’s mound are at major league standards. Additionally, the team will add padding to the outfield walls, field lights, tents and trailers for operations and train the Penn College Baseball team on tarp deployment.
 
The second oldest and most distinguished Minor League Baseball venue in the country will play host to the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 19. The game will air live on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

"We were thrilled when MLB announced there would be a second Little League Classic considering the fantastic job our members and BrightView did rebuilding Historic Bowman Field last year," says Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. “This game is not only great for the community in Williamsport, but it’s an honor for our members to showcase their excellent work creating the safest and most aesthetically pleasing playing surface possible."

"This may be the smallest venue to ever host an MLB game, so with that comes challenges that most people probably would never know," says Murray Cook, President of BrightView Sports Turf and past President of STMA. "Isaiah and his team have done extremely well keeping this minor league field in top condition throughout the Crosscutters season, and over the next two weeks we’ll take the necessary steps to perfect it as it prepares to host an MLB game.” 

Last year, BrightView Landscape Development and Sports Turf teams laid 4,500 tons of sand and root-zone material to prepare the natural grass surface; removed 1 1/2 feet of physical mass; installed the playing surface and set infield and outfield sod the week of May 30, 2017. BrightView also oversaw the installation of new foul poles, bullpens, a batter’s eye and backstop net to meet MLB requirements. The new ballfield was opened June 20, 2017, and is home to the Williamsport Crosscutters (Class-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies).

About STMA

STMA is the non-profit, professional association for men and women who manage sports fields worldwide. Since 1981, it has provided education, information and practical knowledge in the art and science of sports field management. More than 2,700 members across 34 local chapters oversee facilities at schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadiums. Sports include football, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, rugby and horse racing.

Prep Work Begins for Little League Classic, Ballpark Digest