K-Tribe's Stephen Watson is the Carolina League Sports Turf Manager of the Year
September 6, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Kinston Indians News Release
Kinston, NC - The Carolina League has announced that Kinston's Head Groundskeeper Stephen Watson and Myrtle Beach Groundskeeper Chris Ball are the League's Sports Turf Managers of the Year. This is the first time there has been a tie for the award that honors the Carolina League's best playing surface. Kinston's Head Groundskeeper Stephen Watson brings the award back to the K-Tribe for the first time since the 2005 season.
"It certainly would not have been possible without my assistant Zach VanVorhees and my wonderful crew," says Watson. "The award makes all of those hot, long days; all of those tarp pulls worth it."
Behind the tarp pulling strategy and meteorological skills of Watson, there was not a rainout at Historic Grainger Stadium this season during one of the rainiest summers ever on the east coast. Kinston is the only team to stay dry in the Carolina League this year. This is the first time a Carolina League team has completed the season without a rainout since Wilmington did it in the 1999 season!
"Stephen and his crew have worked very hard this year and deserved to be recognized," says K-Tribe General Manager Shari Massengill. "Late nights and long weekends of keeping an eye to the sky, even when the team was out of town, helped us get through the year without a rainout. Watson went above and beyond to make our diamond sparkle at Historic Grainger Stadium"
Stephen Watson is in his second season as Head Groundskeeper at Historic Grainger Stadium. Watson worked for the city of Kinston in the Parks and Recreation Department for six years prior to joining the K-Tribe. A Kenly, North Carolina native and graduate of North Carolina State University, Stephen is married to his wife Heather.
The K-Tribe last won the Carolina League Turf Manager of the Year Award in 2005 under the direction of former Groundskeeper Tommy Walston. This is the fifth time the K-Tribe has grabbed the honor this decade (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2009).
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Carolina League Stories from September 6, 2009
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- Four Of A Kind: Ball Garners League Honor Again - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- K-Tribe's Stephen Watson is the Carolina League Sports Turf Manager of the Year - Kinston Indians
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- Early Rally Overwhelms Frederick - Frederick Keys
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