Arvest Ballpark, Naturals' Groundskeeper Recognized For Having "Field of the Year"
12/2/2010 at 10:07am
Arvest Ballpark and head groundskeeper Monty Sowell have been honored by the SportsTurf Managers Association as winner of the 2010 Professional Baseball Field of the Year.
Arvest Ballpark and head groundskeeper Monty Sowell have been honored by the SportsTurf Managers Association as winner of the 2010 Professional Baseball Field of the Year.
The distinction, presented yearly since 1992, is handed out by the STMA for three categories: Professional, College and University, and Schools and Parks. The awards are determined based upon submissions by the ballparks and their respective field turf managers and decided upon by a panel of six judges. These six judges independently score each submission based on the playability and appearance of the playing surface, but also the innovative solutions employed, effective use of budget, and the development and implementation of a comprehensive sound agronomic program.
One of the key elements for Arvest Ballpark’s selection included the manner in which Sowell, along with assistant groundskeeper Kaleb Reynolds and the rest of the grounds crew, handled adversity. The unique climate of Northwest Arkansas combined with the unseasonably snowy and cold winter of 2009-2010 provided an ample backdrop of diverse weather conditions the field must endure. The varying climate of the region presents an unlimited number of challenges to the grounds crew as the stadium lies within a ‘transition zone,’ i.e., the ballpark must be seeded with rye grass early in the season and transition to bermuda grass later in the season.
“This is a true team award, and I couldn't be prouder of our operations team for recognition from the STMA,” said Naturals’ General Manager Eric Edelstein. “Naturals fans have a lot to be proud of this year, and we are humbled by this tremendous National honor.”
It is the second time winning the award for Sowell, whose sports turf management career has spanned well over a decade and has included stops with the University of Arkansas and several other minor league teams before joining the Naturals. Sowell also won the award in 2003 while serving as the Head Groundskeeper for the Naturals’ rival Midland RockHounds. He will accept the award in person at the SportsTurf Managers Association Annual Banquet in Austin, TX on Friday, January 14th, 2011.
“The Field of the Year Award validates the intense dedication of our members,” stated Kim Heck, CEO of the Sports Turf Managers Association, the sponsoring organization of the award. “Each year STMA awards no more than 14 Fields of the Year across several sports, so a very small percentage of our members are winners. Monty and his crew are very deserving of this prestigious award for Arvest Ballpark.”
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