Mariners and Baseball Tomorrow Fund host field maintenance clinic for youth baseball/softball organizations

Representatives from area youth baseball and softball organizations will get some Big League tips on how to maintain their fields at a clinic hosted by the Seattle Mariners and Baseball Tomorrow Fund, an organization that provides grants to support youth baseball and softball programs.

The clinic, which is part of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund/Major League Baseball Field Maintenance Education Program, will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 4:30-6:30pm at Safeco Field. Mariners head groundskeeper Bob Christofferson and members of his crew will lead participants through a series of topics including infield maintenance, game day preparations, turf management and mound and home plate management. In addition to presentations, they'll also get some hands-on experience with such things as chalking, infield prep and fertilizers.

In conjunction with the clinic, the Darrington Junior Athletic Association will be awarded a grant of $10,000 to "re-outfit our teams from head to toe," according to Jennie Requa, Association president.

"The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is excited to team up with the Mariners for this excellent opportunity to share field maintenance techniques with local youth organizations," said Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. "We hope that this clinic, along with the grants awarded, will support the sustainability of safe and playable youth baseball and softball facilities in the area."

"Sports field maintenance budgets are stretched thin these days, so if I can give some tips to help these organizations keep their fields in better shape for their players, I'm happy to do it," said Christofferson.