How Fresno State’s Fields are Handling the Rain

March means baseball and softball season, but this year it also means rain.

Fresno State’s groundskeepers are changing their routine to accommodate the downpours.

All of Fresno State’s sports fields are kept at a professional level of maintenance. A high-quality field requires high-quality work, which is exactly what lead groundskeeper Eddie Zenteno and his team strive for every day–even if it means taking extra steps.

“To be able to have games and practices in this crazy weather that we have been having, it is important to have the tarp on the field for the infield to be able to use it for both practices and games,” Zenteno said.

Field maintenance requires close attention to detail, even mowing and raking have a certain pattern that needs to be followed. Those details become even more intricate during the rainy season, like putting a large tarp on the infield to protect it from water damage.

“This is something you want to have as this is the main focus to have everything ready to play. When expecting rain, it is a must to have it on,” Zenteno said.

The groundskeepers are not the only ones who take care of the field. Facilities manager Tim Breshears says the players and coaches do their part as well.

“Too much wear in one spot can actually wear it until it’s actually dead. So, we work together really well to move drills around in practices. And they understand their part, we understand our part, and we have to work together to make it this nice,” Breshears said.

The hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed, especially for baseball player Robbie Peters who says he and the team have a high level of gratitude for all the work the groundskeepers put into the field.

“We have a lot of appreciation and respect for a nicely kept field,” Peters said. “A lot of that goes toward our amazing grounds crew. They spend a lot of hours out there to make it look as good as it does for us on game day and obviously, you see the work on display.”