SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Wahoos' Ray Sayre Named Groundkeeper of the Year

Published on September 5, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


It is awards season around the Southern League, and the Blue Wahoos have already been recognized with two top honors. Blue Wahoos head groundkeeper Ray Sayer has been awarded Groundskeeper of the Year for his maintenance of the league's top playing surface. Additionally, the league announced that the Blue Wahoos were under superior care from Charles Leddon who was named by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) as the Athletic Trainer of the Year in the league.

"This is a great example of the first class operation we strive for with the Blue Wahoos," said team President Bruce Baldwin. "Ray takes great pride in the work that he does on the field, and his hard work and determination to have the league's very best playing surface has paid off. His work ethic and attitude is a direct reflection of our mission to be the very best sports organization in the country."

Sayre has been with the Blue Wahoos since the team opened play last year. He was instrumental in getting the field installed and ready for play in the teams inaugural season. Year two, brought a new set of challenges to the Wahoos groundskeeper. Due to an abundance of non-baseball activity during the winter, Sayre was tasked with a complete infield turf replacement just days prior to the start of the 2014 season.

"I'm humbled by the award," said Sayre. "This isn't just my award, it's a tribute to the hard work and long hours that our entire grounds crew puts into this field. Everybody on our staff takes pride in not just how it looks, but more importantly for how it plays for some of the most talented players in professional baseball."

This is the first time Sayre has been awarded such an honor over his eight years as a head groundskeeper in professional baseball. The Lexington, Ky. native graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in Turf Grass Management. He began his work on athletic fields at the University of Kentucky and went on to work for three other minor league teams, the Louisville Bats (International League), the Greenville Drive (South Atlantic League) and the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Midwest League) prior to joining the Blue Wahoos.

"Charles does a great job with our players and we know the Reds have the utmost confidence in his abilities to treat their valued players," said Baldwin. "He is the ultimate professional and his care and knowledge of the industry is second to none."

Leddon's honor was voted on by his peers and he in now eligible to be recognized as the PBATS Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year, which will be announced at the Winter Meetings in December.

Leddon has worked the past seven years in the Reds organization, including the last two with Pensacola. Before he joined the Reds organization, Charles worked in the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals minor league systems. Leddon was voted the 2009 and 2010 Pioneer League Athletic League Trainer of the year, 2003 Texas League Athletic Trainer of the Year and was selected to work the 2003 and 2004 Texas League All-Star Games.

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Southern League Stories from September 5, 2013


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