Between the Lines
Between the Lines
Meet Gene Long, the Man Behind the Coleman Park Baseball Fields
The
Frederick D. “Fritz” Miller Memorial Baseball Field at Coleman Memorial Park in Lebanon, PA is an acknowledged local treasure. Built in 1958, Miller Field is the home field of the Lebanon High baseball team and also hosts the annual Coleman Park Hitting Contest each August. It received the Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization’s Field of Distinction honor in 2016. A conversation with longtime caretaker Gene Long gives us some insight into why the fields at Coleman Park are so outstanding.
A Labor of Love Long has been nurturing the fields at Coleman Park since the early 90s, when Karl “Skip” Wolfe, a league official, PIAA umpire, and one of the Coleman Park Trustees saw the impressive quality of Gene’s home field at Jonestown and recruited him. His involvement with baseball field management grew out of his passion for the game. “I am one of thousands who have learned to love the game of baseball. It has always provided joy in my life. I played the game as a youngster and young adult. I encouraged my son and his son to play the game. I coached a local team,” he says. “And I now find fulfillment by offering my local community a beautiful, safe place to play the game.” Coleman Park has four fields and a limited budget — a big challenge for one volunteer. “Since I am now retired, I am fortunate enough to be able to donate labor hours,” Gene Long says. He does not have a paid staff but receives handson support from the local baseball community. “Little league coaches, their teams, and parents come to spring field days and the youngsters help in the process, which I feel encourages them to adopt this field as their own,” he says.
Maintenance Routines Player skill levels and frequency of use are Long’s guide for prioritizing maintenance. The two little league fields are mowed throughout the entire growing season and fertilization, weed control, and over-seeding is done as needed. The multi-use utility field has a skinned infield and a portable
Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization 1451 Peter’s Mountain Road Dauphin, PA 17018-9504 www.KAFMO.org Email: KAFMO@aol.com 16 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2019
pitching mound which allows play for 60-, 70-, or 90-foot base lengths and can be removed for softball. This field is in use from April through October. The park’s premier ball field has major league dimensions and is in high demand for high school, local league, local and travel tournaments, as well as special holiday events. Long starts his maintenance year by placing gear out onto the fields and using a light roller to level out frost heave. To test that things are level, he stretches a taut string along the entire grass line to determine if high or low spots are developing, then adjusts if necessary. The two large fields receive applications for weed grass and white grub prevention and two applications of fertilizer, one in early May and one in late September. The infield grass on the premium field demands the most attention. The turf is reel cut at a height of one inch and a quarter — not pro standard, but low enough to present special problems, says Long. Broadleaf invaders like white clover receive spot treatments and annual bluegrass always seems poised to move in.
Help from KAFMO That is where Gene’s working relationship with KAFMO comes into play. He realized soon after embarking on his field improvement tasks that some education would be necessary. In pursuing a pesticide license at the local extension office, he learned of KAFMO and began to participate in workshops. “The people of KAFMO have been directly helpful to me,” he says. “Jim Welshans came to the park at my request with a top-dressing machine and helped me top-dress my infield. Penn State’s Dr. Peter Landschoot has been at the park to diagnose turf problems. He worked with me to renovate infield grass and eliminate my dreaded enemy, poa annua. This action was 98% effective and resulted in a dense ryegrass cover.” He recalls that last year was exasperating due to turf loss as a result of disease. He spent the winter reviewing tech articles and plans to keep a record of field temperatures and humidity and watch for disease indicators this year. He has an action plan in mind but is glad that he can call on the expertise of people at KAFMO when necessary.
Contact: Linda Kulp, Executive Secretary Phone: 717-497-4154 kulp1451@gmail.com
Contact: Dan Douglas, President Phone: 610-375-8469 x 212 KAFMO@aol.com
