Al Leiter Field At Central Regional Wins 'Field Of The Year'

BAYVILLE, NJ — Earlier in the spring, officials unveiled the newly-redone Al Leiter Baseball Park at Al Kunzman Memorial Field, thanks to a six-figure donation by Central Regional School District icon Leiter himself. Now, that hard work put into renovating it has paid off - the field was named Sports Field Management Association's (SFMA) School and Parks Baseball Field of the Year.

For those unfamiliar, the award is highly prestigious for those in the field, Central's Supervisor of Grounds Keith Fisher told Patch. SFMA is a non-profit professional association for those who manage sports fields worldwide, and of which Fisher is a member.

Fisher is more than just the grounds supervisor who helped make this field an award winner. He's also a lifelong Bayville resident, a Central alum and a varsity baseball player.

He graduated from Central in 1997 and has worked for the Atlantic City Surf, Jersey Shore BlueClaws, New York Yankees, Toms River Regional Schools and Middlesex County Vocational School District.

But Fisher came to Central in Aug. 2021 with a vision.

"When I found out that Al Leiter was donating money to the school district to improve the playing surface for the baseball field, I wanted to be involved in any way possible," Fisher said.

Central Superintendent Tom Parlapanides and Leiter decided they wanted someone with sports field knowledge to maintain the field, Fisher said.

"I could see the direction the district wanted to go with not only Al Leiter Field but all the athletic fields and grounds," he said. And he got the job.

They added bleachers and a press box to the field, and Fisher thanked staff members Frank Burlew, Robert Lovenstein and Sal Guzzo who helped create a new warning track, built new bullpens and installed the new infield dirt, he said.

"They also worked hard around the campus getting the other sports fields ready so I could concentrate on Al Leiter Field," Fisher said. "Without their hard work and dedication, winning this prestigious award would not have been possible."

Maintaining a baseball field is the hard part, he said. The field consists of Kentucky Bluegrass purchased from South Jersey's Tuckahoe Turf Farms, which provides grass to professional sports fields across the northeast. The infield mix they use is the same used at the major league level too, Fisher said.

Field quality and maintenance is a major contributor to a successful baseball season for all teams, Fisher said.

"That's what I enjoy the most, doing everything I can to provide the best and safest playing surface for the players, coaches, and fans all to enjoy and be successful on!" Fisher said.

The award is given to "natural grass fields that exhibit excellent playability and safety and whose managers utilize innovative solutions, effectively use their budgets, and have implemented a comprehensive agronomic program."

"This award means a great deal to me personally and professionally," Fisher said. "It provides validation for my peers and the people who believed in me and stood behind me when I was hired, From Dr. Parlapanides, the Board of Education, and Mr. John Scran, our Athletic Director."