LINCOLN – For the 16th time in as many years, Haymarket Park – the home of the Saltdogs – was selected ‘Best Playing Field’ in the American Association, as voted by league managers and media.
Josh Klute has been the Athletic Turf Manager at Haymarket Park since 2006. In addition to the 11 American Association titles, he also helped earn the ballpark ‘Baseball Field of the Year’ in the College/University division by the Sports Turf Management Association in 2007 – the second time Hawks Field at Haymarket Park earned that national award.
“Each year I appreciate this award more and more as each year brings a new set of challenges,” Klute said. “There are some really good playing surfaces in the league so we definitely don’t take this award for granted.”
As a member of the Northern League, Haymarket Park garnered the award from its inception in 2001 through 2005, and has continued the title reign through all 11 seasons of American Association play.
“Congratulations to Josh and his staff for another job well done,” Saltdogs President/GM Charlie Meyer said. “So many opposing players and coaches tell me this is one of the best playing surfaces they’ve ever played on.”
Prior to his time at Haymarket Park Klute served as Athletic Turf Manager at the University of Oklahoma in 2005, Assistant Turf Manager for the Cleveland Indians minor-league affiliate in Lake County (Ohio) from 2003-2004, and as an intern with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.
Klute added: “I can’t possibly thank my assistant Jeremy Johnson enough. His attention to detail and knowledge of this industry is top notch. It takes a team effort and I must also thank Marcus Liable, Mike McNally and our interns this year: Logan Leigh and Robyn Sullivan; along with our entire turf/landscape crew for their countless hours behind the scenes. The biggest challenge each year is the number of events on the field due to the sharing of the facility between University of Nebraska and Lincoln Saltdogs, but without their positive working relationship we would not be able to produce the best possible product for our players, nor achieve our goals each year.”
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