The STMA, a professional association for those who manage sports fields worldwide, has announced the Sports Turf Managers of the Year. Keith Winter, who manages Parkview Field for the Fort Wayne Tincaps in Fort Wayne, Ind., pictured, received the award for the Single-A division. [Photo Credits]: STMA

Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – the professional association for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide – and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) recently announced the 2015 "Sports Turf Manager of the Year" award winners.

Since 2000, STMA and MiLB have honored members who manage fields in Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Short Season or Rookie divisions. This year, three of the four honorees are multi-year winners, exemplifying a commitment to excellence and an unwavering dedication to maintaining world-class professional baseball playing surfaces.

Award winners include:

Triple-A – John Stewart, Syracuse Chiefs (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Double-A – Brock Phipps, Springfield Cardinals (Springfield, Mo.)
Single-A – Keith Winter, Fort Wayne Tincaps (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Short Season or Rookie – David Yearout, Spokane Indians (Spokane, Wash.)

"Each year, we highlight members in MiLB with the recognition they deserve for producing high-quality, safe and playable fields," says Kim Heck, CEO of STMA. "In an industry where Mother Nature is unpredictable, these individuals find innovative and persistent ways to maintain excellent field conditions."

Phipps and Winter are both being honored for the third consecutive time (2013, 2014). Yearout is a second-time winner (2014) and Stewart is a first-time winner, joining an elite class of sports turf managers.

Winners are selected via a 16-member awards committee, compiled by STMA. Each nominee is independently scored on cultural practices, game day routine, resource utilization, staff management and the groundskeeper's involvement and support of the sports turf industry.

STMA will present awards to recipients at the annual Major League Baseball Winter Meetings awards luncheon in Nashville, Tenn. on December 7.

Keith Winter is also presenting on "Turf Management Practices on High-Use/High-Wear Sports Fields" at the 2015 Athletic Business Conference & Expo on November 21 in New Orleans.

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