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Each year, the MLB groundskeepers convene in January to discuss industry issues and best practices. The conference, sponsored by The Toro Company, Covermaster® and Turface Athletics, concludes with a field day to renovate a youth field in the surrounding community. Renovation was funded by a $40,000 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and through equipment, material and labor donations from the MLB groundskeepers, The Toro Company, Turface Athletics, Covermaster, Inc., Colony Landscaping, Barkshire Laser Leveling and West Coast Turf. So, what do you get when you bring together 40 groundskeepers representing 23 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams? A beautifully renovated ball field! The dream came true when Tink Reynoso, Sequoia High School baseball coach received an email from Larry DiVito, head groundskeeper for the Washington Nationals that they were selected at the 11th Annual MLB Groundskeepers Conference for the “Rebuild Field.” Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, was selected as the site for the renovation on January 19, 2009. Approximately 45 Major League Baseball (MLB) groundskeepers and corporate sponsors donated time, money and resources to transform the Sequoia High School baseball field into a first class baseball field.  Restoring home plate using Turface Professional Mound Clay® during the Sequoia High School field rebuild. Photo Courtesy of Profile Products, LLC “In addition to the MLB groundskeepers, about 100 people from the community came out to help, including our alumni association and the improvements to our baseball field are unbelievable.” “We now have a baseball field above the level of most colleges. It’s a dream come true,” said Tink Reynoso, Sequoia High School baseball coach. Groundskeepers from the U.S. and Canada rebuilt the pitcher’s mound, bullpen and batter’s box; mowed and edged the turf; dragged the infield; and incorporated field conditioner into the playing surfaces. PROFILE Products LLC donated several pallets of Turface® Pro League® Red for the infield, and Turface MoundMaster® Blocks and Turface Professional Mound Clay® to rebuild the pitching mounds and batter’s boxes. Reynoso mentioned that Larry DiVito, head groundskeeper for the Washington Nationals, presented information to his entire baseball team on how to maintain the field. Representatives from the Seattle Mariners also held on-field classes on how to take care of the pitcher’s mound. Luke Yoder, the San Diego Padres’ head groundskeeper, spearheaded the entire endeavor that began back in August of 2008.  Toro’s Infield Pro® with attachments contouring and leveling sports field surfaces at the Sequoia High School field rebuild. Photo Courtesy of The Toro Company The dedication ceremony took place at the school on Monday, January 19, 2009. Larry DiVito also an alumnus of Sequoia High School and who played baseball on this very field threw out the ceremonial first pitch followed by a one-inning exhibition by Sequoia’s varsity team. “This has become somewhat of a tradition at the MLB Groundskeepers Conference,” explained Joe Betulius, vice president of sales for Profile Products. “We had an incredible amount of support this year from groundskeepers, corporate sponsors and a large financial contribution from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.” Without a doubt, the Major League groundskeepers are remarkable in their skills and they left an enduring legacy for the San Jose community and Sequoia High School baseball. Turface Athletics has a long-standing commitment to improving the safety and playability of athletic fields across the nation. They are the presenting sponsor of the Keep America PlayingTM Tour-an educational initiative designed to bring instruction to parents, coaches, groundskeepers and parent volunteers on best practices in constructing and maintaining sports fields. Field education, tour information and events can be found at www.keepamericaplaying.com.
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