Dash's Doug Tanis Wins Sports Turf Manager Award
Published on September 8, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (SEPTEMBER 8, 2011) - The immense home field advantage that the Dash enjoy comes not only from the fans who pack BB&T Ballpark on a regular basis, but also from the top-notch playing surface that the team competes on during every home game. It is for that reason the entire Dash organization is proud to announce that head groundskeeper Doug Tanis has been honored as the 2011 winner of the Carolina League Sports Turf Manager of the Year.
This is the first time that Tanis has won the award, which is presented by the Sports Turf Managers Association, Minor League Baseball, and the Carolina League. The Carolina League coaching staffs evaluate all of the league's playing surfaces in a variety of categories and the award goes to the groundskeeper, grounds crew, and facility that earn the highest grades.
"This came as a welcome surprise and I am truly honored," Tanis said. "My assistant, Jason Hardy, and I have received a tremendous amount of support from the Dash organization, from the state-of-the-art equipment that would be the envy of most major league teams, to the front office's assistance with more than 30 tarp pulls throughout the season. I want to thank everyone on my outstanding grounds crew for all the work that they have put in this season and all the coaches and players in the league for their constant feedback on how we can make BB&T Ballpark a better place to play.
"This honor is made even more special considering the quality of the other fields in our league. My colleagues with the other teams all do amazing jobs. To be selected from this group means a lot."
Tanis and his crew's expert ability to handle difficult situations was on display even before the start of the regular season. On March 30, the Dash hosted the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game. That day, Winston-Salem received approximately two inches of rain and a steady drizzle continued throughout the afternoon and into the evening, with temperatures staying in the low 40s. Tanis and his crew kept the field as dry as possible and the playing surface was deemed more than acceptable to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams. Most importantly, the game was started on time and was played without incident.
Tanis is wrapping up his fifth season with Winston-Salem as its head groundskeeper. He joined the then-Warthogs in January of 2007 after working for the Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League. Prior to working in baseball, Tanis spent four years in the Marine Corps and served his country in the Iraq War. He holds an Associate's degree in turf management and is a native of Pequannock, New Jersey.
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com .
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