The International League today announced that Buffalo Bisons Head Groundskeeper CHAD LAURIE has been named the league’s Sports Turf Manager of the Year. He is the first Bisons associate to be given the honor in the award’s 25-year existence.
Laurie was selected for this award by the field managers and pitching coaches from around the International League. He is now under consideration for the Triple-A classification’s Sports Turf Manager of the Year Award as selected by the Sports Turf Managers Association and presented annually at the Baseball Winter Meetings.
“This is a tremendous honor for Chad and a fitting award for all the dedication, hard work and long hours he and his staff puts into each season,” said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President/General Manager of the Buffalo Bisons. “It’s no secret the challenges we face with our constantly-changing weather in Western New York, but Chad always has our field looking great and in optimal playing condition.”
A native of Louisville and graduate of the University of Kentucky, Laurie joined the Bisons prior to the 2012 season and has served as the team’s Head Groundskeeper ever since. He is a member of the National Sports Turf Managers Association, the New York State Turfgrass Association and the Sports Turf Managers of New York. During his tenure with the team, Laurie has kept the Coca-Cola Field in beautiful, game-ready conditions while dealing with everything from four-foot snow drifts three weeks before the 2015 season to drought conditions during much of the Summer of 2016. This past season, the Bisons had just one postponed game during a 72-game schedule.
This is only the fourth time in 25 years a groundskeeper from the IL North division has won the award. Syracuse’s John Stewart was given the honor last year while Ottawa’s Al Dungey won back-to-back years, 1994-1995.
from Bisons.com via IFTTT
