Little Leaguers will be playing ball on new and improved fields this spring thanks to the efforts of Penn State Turfgrass Science students who won $4,000 last year in a national SportsTurf Managers Association competition (PSU teams also won this year’s 2-year and 4-year competitions). The team was coached by Matt Naedel, research associate in the Penn State Turfgrass Project.
The students donated their winnings and worked alongside Matt Neri, groundskeeper for the State College Spikes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ single-A affiliate, to overhaul two fields near Centre Hall last fall. The crews spread a new infield mix and installed clay bricks below the pitcher’s landing area and batter’s and catcher’s boxes. They set new pitching rubbers and bases, reshaped the infield and fertilized the outfield.
The students also repainted foul lines using donated equipment from Doug Shattinger of Pioneer Athletics. Mark Dargay from E.H. Griffith of Pittsburgh and Valley Ag and Turf of Centre Hall provided equipment for the day. Other items were supplied by Steve Legros of Turf and Dirt.
Little Leaguers will be playing ball on new and improved fields this spring thanks to the efforts of Penn State Turfgrass Science students who won $4,000 last year in a national SportsTurf Managers Association competition.