DAUPHIN, Pa. – Moravian College's Blue and Grey Softball Field has earned the Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization's Field of Distinction honors for 2012. The award presentation will take place at 1:15 p.m. on February 17, 2012, during the 16th Annual KAFMO/PRPS Athletic Field Conference to be held at the Holiday Inn in Grantville, PA.
Moravian College's Blue and Grey Softball Field has had quite a diversified history. In the 1950's, the field was primarily used for local little league games and had very few amenities and little, if any, maintenance. Sometime later, the outfield became the primary practice field for the college's football team. Every year following football season, the outfield would need to be renovated to insure it would be ready for softball in March. This type of maintenance, while necessary, was becoming quite expensive and challenging for the College staff to maintain year after year. Beginning in 2000, a decision was made to renovate and improve the field to meet NCAA softball standards. Since then, the Moravian staff has aggressively continued to upgrade the field and its amenities. In 2005, a decision was made to make the field a softball only field and was given the name The Blue and Grey Softball Field. Randy Haffling, General Service Manager and his crew are constantly improving the field to insure that it is a quality playing surface.
Field of Distinction honors are awarded annually by KAFMO to facilities that have demonstrated a dedication to providing safe and playable conditions for their users regardless of the level of play. Entrants must supply information on the type of facility, the uses of the facility that impact the playing conditions, the maintenance program, budget and staff. Photos of the field are provided to document the playability and appearance of the playing surface. The KAFMO Board of Directors judges entrants.
The Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization is a group of over 300 individuals committed to enhancing the professionalism of athletic field managers in Pennsylvania. The organization's goal is to improve the safety, playability, and appearance of all athletic fields in the state. KAFMO members represent school districts, colleges, professional facilities, park and recreation departments, youth leagues, educators, and commercial vendors.
For more information on the Field of Distinction Award, KAFMO, or the awards ceremony, please contact KAFMO President Dan Douglas at 610-375-8469 ext. 212, or Dave Anderson, Awards Chairman, at 717-618-7029, or email to KAFMO@aol.com. Information is also available at www.KAFMO.org.
