6B
SPORTS
BASEBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008
Field of Dreams: Students take care of Hoglund Ballpark
BY TYLER PASSMORE
tpassmore@kansan.com
For baseball fans, part of the spectacle of attending a baseball game is the field. Most fans remember the first big league or college baseball game they attended and can remember the field and how manicured it was.
Baseball fields don't naturally look like that and this also holds true for Hoglund Ballpark. Five University of Kansas students devote endless hours to make sure Hoglund Ballpark looks the way it does.
The LeBron James of the group, head groundskeeper Andy Beggs, Wichita senior, runs the staff. Just as LeBron James is nicknamed King James, the grounds crew
members have a name for their leader: Peanuts. Beggs gained his experience by working with the Wichita Wranglers for four years during high school.
This year will be one of the biggest for Hoglund Ballpark and the crew who work on the field.
"We are entering the STMA (Sports Turf Managers Association) sports turf field of the year this year," Beggs said. "Nebraska won the whole thing last year and it gives these guys an extra little bit of motivation while they're out here."
The formula for winning a championship is the same in grounds keeping as it is in anything else: it takes a team. This year the crew has more members than in the past, and Beggs said it was the best crew in his tenure at
the University.
"These guys do a lot of work out here," Beggs said. "They do absolutely everything for me and are the best grounds crew 1 could have."
After putting in almost 30 hours a week during the summer and baseball season, the new guys lose the rookie status fast.
One of those members is Mark Thompson, Wichita freshman. This is Thompson's first year on the staff and he entered college without any previous experience in the field.
"It wasn't that hard," Thompson said. "They showed me how to do pretty much everything. There are some things that are a lot harder to do than others, but they have made it pretty easy."
Mark Thompson, Wichita freshman and groundskeeper for Hoglund Ballpark, rebuilds the pitcher's mound Monday. Thompson and four other students each work up to 30 hours a week during the summer and baseball season.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
The cohesiveness is evident when watching the crew do its job. Even if there isn't a game that day the crew still works hard.
They start by taking tarps off the mounds, plates and bullpens. Once that is complete, the crew will go around and fix clay areas on the base paths, while Beggs nail drags the field. With that done, the sprinklers then water the infield as the crew cleans the dugouts. Once the dugouts are complete, the crew heads to work on the bullpen mounds and takes care of the hitting cages. While the bullpens are being taken care of, other members are working on cutting the outfield and infield grass. This is all in an off day,
when the players won't even step foot on the field.
"We are just always looking for ways to make the field better," Alex Sandmoen, Overland Park freshman, said.
The crew doesn't waste time, and completes their tasks like clockwork. The constant attention they give the field takes numerous hours and a lot of hard work.
said. "You get really attached to the field. I am out here almost five hours a day and it becomes your baby almost. You just want to make it perfect."
Although the crew will never get the chance to play in a game, they are the biggest Kansas baseball fans there.
"I really do love it," Sandmoen
ners together and it has made me a bigger fan."
"You are way more connected to it," Sandmioen said. "You're almost part of the team, we have team din-
Making the team better by creating a perfect playing surface, the members of the grounds crew are truly members of the team. And part of another team, who much like the baseball team, is in search of a title.
- Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
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NBA
After disappointing game,
Anthony suspected of DUI DENVER — NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, hours after his worst game of the season.
The Denver Nuggets forward
was arrested on Interstate 25, police said. He was alone in the car and pulled over for weaving and not dimming his lights.
Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets vice President of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment. The Nuggets did not practice Monday and Anthony wasn't available. He's expected at practice Tuesday.
Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony failed a series of sobriety tests. He was charged with DUI, then taken to police headquarters before being released to a "sober responsible party," Hahn said. Anthony is due in court May 14.
Anthony's attorney, Dan Recht said his client consented to a blood test, but results won't be available for about two weeks.
"Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets organization for the distraction this is causing them,'Recht said.
The Nuggets (49-32) moved a half game ahead of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference on Sunday night when they beat Houston 111-94. Denver can clinch a fifth straight postseason berth by beating Memphis at home Wednesday night or if the Warriors lose at Phoenix on Monday night.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
JAYHAWK
HAWK OF THE WEEK
Quinn Tolbert
"KU has an amazing way of helping students travel the world. Whether through study abroad opportunities or traveling with friends, it gives you a chance to learn more outside of Lawrence."
Senior in architecture Wichita, Kan.
Quinn supports KU through leadership positions in:
- Boys and Girls Club
- KU Endowment as a student manager
- St. Lawrence Catholic Center
STUDENTS FOR KU.ORG
Do you know a great teacher, notable alum, outstanding staff member or exemplary student we could feature in this campaign? To nominate a Jayhawk visit studentsforku.org. You and your nominee will each be entered in a drawing to receive a $250 KU Bookstore gift card.
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