Blaze Groundskeeper Wins Class A Award

December 13, 2005 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release


DALLAS, TX-Bakersfield Blaze Head Groundskeeper Chris Ralston, who was recently named the groundskeeper of the year in the California League, was presented with the same award for the entire Class A level at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas last week. Ralston competed against the winners in five other leagues for the honor. The award was presented at the annual Minor League Baseball Awards Banquet on Monday afternoon by the President of the Sports Turf Manager's Association.

Ralston, who in his first year with the Blaze in 2005 completely refurbished the playing surface at 64 year old Sam Lynn Ballpark, accepted the crystal trophy by thanking the Blaze organization, including GM Chris Bitters and Asst. GM Brian Thomas, who were both in attendance along with representatives from the more than 160 affiliated Minor League teams, and 30 Major League clubs. This is the first time since the award has been presented that the Bakersfield franchise has been chosen to receive it.

In Other Blaze News

The California League will hold a press conference next Monday, December 19 to announce a new ownership group. The press conference will be held in the Holiday Inn Select Lounge at 11 a.m. While no specifics on the identity of this group will be announced until that time it will represent the first time in more than a year that the Blaze will have a permanent group of owners. The team has been owned by the California League on an interim basis since June of 2004, when they bought the club from the Patton family, who had owned it for more than 20 years.



California League Stories from December 13, 2005


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