This post was originally published on this site
CdM starter Stevie Jones throws a warm-up pitch to catcher Charlie Kaster in a game Saturday. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Corona del Mar High School baseball players take plenty of pride in the on-campus field they play on.
The hard work has paid off with the program receiving recognition from a national publication.,
The field was recognized by Sports Field Management Associations magazine in an article earlier this season.
“We were national field of the year for the schools and parks category,” said CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey in an interview after a game. “A really neat honor.”
Fans who go to CdM fans will notice a well maintained field with painted logos along with different and intriguing grass patterns and a well maintained infield.
“This is my pride, McCaffrey said. “We teach the boys how to take care of the field, it’s a lot of work, but the boys deserve to play on the best possible facility, that’s always been my take, and I want these facilities to be nice.
“Our freshman field is the same way, I want the boys to have the best when they play here at CdM. We have a Turf Management class one period, it’s half baseball players and half regular students and I teach them how to do it and the baseball guys do the rest.”
McCaffrey, in a response to a question about the field to the magazine added:
“The students learn how to use all of our different mowers. They learn how to paint the field. Not only do we paint the batter’s box and foul lines, but we add several logos to our field to make it look more like a professional field.
“I would also like to thank my wife and daughter. I feel as though my wife Brooke is part of the crew at times. She allows me to spend time at the field getting it ready for our players as she knows it is a passion of mine. She has come out to help me mow on the weekends and those days are special. My daughter also loves going to the field with dad and riding on the mower with me. These are memories I will never forget.”
The field also has an easy to read scoreboard, concession stand in which the public address announcer works and plenty of bleacher seats.
CdM has been off for almost a week as it awaits its CIF playoff fate. McCaffrey and the Sea Kings are hopeful of an at-large playoff berth when the pairings are announced on Monday.
The Sea Kings (14-14 overall) earned the coveted .500 mark with an 11-0 victory over La Quinta from La Quinta last Saturday.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com