Arizona State University is the college/university winner and Putnam City West High School (Oklahoma City, Okla.) is the high school winner in the NFCA/Turface Grounds Crew Field Maintenance Field award for the 2002 season. Arizona State head softball coach Linda Wells and Putnam City West head softball coach Rick Newville will receive their awards at the NFCA National Convention in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Dedicated in April, 2000, Arizona State's Alberta B. Farrington Stadium is a 1,500 seat facility that includes 500 back seats. Among the stadiumÃs many features are locker rooms, offices, concession stands, a team shop and a team room. Arizona State also won the 2000 NFCA/Turface Grounds Crew Field Maintenance Field award. The field maintenance staff is headed by Pete Wozniak. C. Moore Field is the home of Putnam City West High School and was constructed in 1988. The field is named for Charlie Moore, former coach and initial developer of the facility. Rick Newville, who became the school's head softball coach in July, 2001, has implemented a number of facelift improvements, including a permanent outfield fence and a new 300-seat bleacher set. A total of 90 games were played at C. Moore Field during 2001-2002. Award winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges made up of grounds maintenance professionals selected by the NFCA and Turface. In addition to the two national winners, five regional winners were also selected: Midwest Region -- Barrington High School (Barrington, Ill.) Southwest Region -- University of Texas Southeast Region -- University of Arkansas Mideast Region -- Alexander Central High School (Taylorsville, N.C.) East Region -- Penn State Behrend College
Barrington High School's "Fields of Dreams" is a four-field baseball/softball complex. Construction of the "Fields" began in the late 1980Ãs, with participation starting in the spring of 1991. Barrington High School head softball coach Perry Peterson and Barrington Youth Baseball Maintenance Director Mike Freese are in charge of the field maintenance.
Red and Charline McCombs Field earns regional honors for the second consecutive year. Along with being the home of the Longhorns' softball team, the facility also plays host to the Texas State High School Softball Championship, the Annual Texas Exes Slowpitch Tournament and numerous camps and clinics. Hal McClellan heads the field crew.
Lady'Back Yard was designed in 1995 and built on the former site of the Razorback baseball field. In the infield, the AstroTurf was removed and replaced with a crushed rock infield. Lady'Back Yard's scoreboard features animated graphics and the stadium lighting is designed for broadcast media. A four-room press box overlooks the field. Arkansas was also a regional winner in 2000.
"Central Park" is two years old and was built by head coach Monte Sherrill, who, in his words, "built this field by Floyd Perry"s Groundskeeping book." Without benefit of a full-time groundskeeping crew, the grounds are maintained by community members players, coaches and other volunteers. Among the stadium's extras are a pitching and batting cage facility, a carpeted locker room with video equipment, a refrigerator and seating.
Penn State Behrend will be entering its second season on its new softball facility, which cost approximately $750,000. The complex includes bullpens for both the home and visiting teams, as well as 70-foot dugouts with a drinking fountain in each. There is also a fully enclosed concession stand and press box. The field is maintained by Tom Guth, Hank Chalupcezynski, Tony Gonzales and Dan Arnold of the school's maintenance department.
