FSL honors Miracle turf crew
Florida State League President Chuck Murphy announced last week that the league’s Sports Turf Crew Award for 2013 was awarded to the Fort Myers Miracle “Diamond Cutters. It is the 15th time the groundsmen have won the municipality award.
The award is given annually to the best City or County operated sports turf crew in the Florida State League. The Miracle, with sports turf manager Keith Blasingim, has received 18 sports turf awards since 1990.
“The Hammond Stadium grounds crew does a tremendous job with this entire facility,” said Miracle general manager Andrew Seymour. “These guys make everyone look good, all year round and it’s nice to see their hard work rightfully recognized.”
Hammond Stadium hosts nearly 130 days of baseball from the beginning of Minnesota Twins Spring Training through the Miracle season and the Roy Hobbs World Series in the fall.
The awards, initiated in 1990, are selected by field managers and pitching coaches of each team and the FSL umpires. The five awards are Best Overall Award, Municipality award and three Florida State League Commendation Certificates.
The Best Overall Award, for the 10th year in a row, went to the Clearwater Threshers. Clearwater turf manager Opie Cheek also was named Sports Turf Manager of the Year for the 10th time.
The three teams receiving commendation certificates were the Bradenton Marauders, Charlotte Stone Crabs and Jupiter Hammerheads/Palm Beach Cardinals.
The Marauders were honored for the first time. The Stone Crabs have received 14 awards since 1990 with four of those coming since re-entering the FSL in 2009. The Roger Dean Stadium crew in Jupiter has won an award 11 times.