The Appalachian League offices announced that Mark Washburn was selected as the 2015 Appalachian League Sports Turf Manager of the Year in honor of the Danville Braves winning the Field of the Year.
Washburn and his staff work for the City of Danville and maintain American Legion Post 325
Field for the Danville Braves and other local sports teams that play there. The City of Danville made some large field renovations prior to the 2015 season including replacing the drainage system in the outfield and replacing the entire infield including turf and laser grading. The award is based on input from the league’s on-field managers and umpires throughout the season and rates eleven categories. Categories include field preparation, infield and outfield turf, bullpens, overall playing surface, and professionalism of staff.
“This is just justification for what we (Braves) knew all year,” stated Danville Braves General Manager David Cross. “They (Washburn and his staff) worked hard all year to make this field look and play the best it has in years. The hard work they put into the field did not go unnoticed as I had many visiting managers comment on how good the field was.”
Washburn is now eligible for the Short-Season/Rookie Level Sports Turf Manager of the Year in which he will be competing against winners from five other leagues. The winner of that award will be honored at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN the week of December 6th.
This is the 3rd time a Danville groundskeeper has taken home the league award as Richard Gieselman took home the award in 2006 and Jon Hall in 2011.
For more information on this award or the Danville Braves, please contact the Braves at (434) 797-3792 or david.cross@braves.com. Visit www.dbraves.com to follow the Danville Braves.