By John Kmitta
The 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 kind of 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.”
During the tournament, Guthrie posts a job board each day and conducts a morning meeting to go over everything with the volunteers and assign sections and roles.
“I get them 95% there, and they come in and put the finishing touch on everything,” he said. “Once they come in, it takes a little bit of stress off me. I don’t have to worry quite as much about doing everything myself.
Leading up to this year’s LLBWS, Guthrie faced some challenges in the form of dry weather in late July and early August, as well as a last-minute well pump replacement.
“I was scrambling a little bit just to get everything put back to how it should be,” he said. “But by the time the kids showed up, everything was good. It was nice baseball weather. I think this was a record low number of tarp pulls – two per field – which everybody appreciates. Overall, it was a really good series.”
Said Fowler, “A lot of people say to me, ‘Nothing ever changes. It’s the same every year.’ There are a lot of things that are similar every year; but the one thing that changes is the kids who are playing on the fields. It’s special for me to be able to help prepare those fields for the event, trying to ensure they are as safe and playable as we can possibly make them.”
The other thing that keeps Fowler coming back and involved with the volunteer effort is the bond he has formed with Little League Baseball and with the people who have worked on the crew throughout the years.
“It’s like a family reunion every year that we get together to do this,” he said. “We bring in new people every year; and we have some who have been returning for as many years as I’ve been there, or longer. The camaraderie and passion for sports field management is so prevalent in the group that it’s just a fun time to be around those people.”
In addition to Fowler, this year’s volunteers included (in alphabetical order by last name) Warren Albert; Wayne Barrs; Mark Berry; William Boll; Gerard Cannata; Scott Chambers; Peter Cipolla; Lee Clinton, CSFM; James Dellomo; Michael Deibert; Matt Duncan, CSFM; John Fowler; Noel Harryman, CSFM; Chris Lessig; Greg Martin; Dan Miller; Kyle Rase; Walter Simpson; David Talhelm and Jim Welshans.
Guthrie added that he relies heavily on his interns each year. This year’s interns were Luke Stuhlsatz from Kansas State University and Jill Uloza from Delaware Valley University.
Said Duncan, “The best part of the experience is seeing the Little League players when they first see these fields and the first time they get to be out on them. Giving the kids a world-class playing surface is the best part of it. That is followed closely by the camaraderie of being part of the crew and sharing the experience.”
Duncan was born and raised in Williamsport, so he grew up very familiar with the event. The 2025 LLBWS was his twelfth time volunteering to be part of the grounds crew.
“I’ve been in this industry for 30 years, and the best part about it is the people,” he said. “So many people have helped me along the way that I feel it’s my duty to help others.”
This was the first year at LLBWS for Noel Harryman, CSFM, who wanted to not only give back to the Williamsport community, but also gain experience that he could bring back to his team and to the students and community of Jeffco Public Schools.
“I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to the entire volunteer team for sharing their time, talents and camaraderie with me. It was an honor to be a part of such a dedicated group,” said Harryman.
Clinton, who just wrapped his tenth year as a LLBWS volunteer, added, “It is a great experience working with Rob Guthrie and Jeff Fowler and the rest of the crew to help maintain the fields during the series. Rob does a great job throughout the year with the fields before the LLBWS starts. I always learn new skills at the series from the other volunteers and hopefully someone learns something from me.”
Duncan pointed out that volunteers from KAFMO cook meals for the grounds crew, a role that often goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
“We’re very grateful for the sponsors that help us. It’s just a great experience all the way around.”
Event sponsors include Aqua Aid, DuraEdge Products, Finch Turf, Fisher & Son, Harrell’s LLC, Helena Agri, Hummer Turf, JAMCO, Lawn & Golf Supply Co. Inc., Martin Stone Quarries, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc., Syngenta, Turf Equipment & Supply, Turf Trade, Walker Supply, and Windview Athletic Fields.
“I would highly encourage sports field managers to give back wherever and whenever they can,” said Harryman. “Opportunities like this not only strengthen our industry but also provide a rewarding way to support the next generation of athletes and communities.”
Sports field managers interested in volunteering for the 2026 LLBWS can contact Fowler through KAFMO (https://kafmo.org). Those interested in interning for Guthrie in the future should look to the SFMA job board for the annual posting.
“We have been blessed to be able to go out and take care of athletic fields,” said Fowler. “It’s nice to give back. It’s nice to volunteer. It’s nice to feel needed, and to hear people say ‘wow.’”
