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Brewphoria: Keeping the Field Green

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jul 6, 2011 at 9:44 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2011 at 9:57 PM MDT

It's a job where you see all the elements. Earth, water, wind, and if you count the hot sun...fire too!

"If you're out here all day in the sun from 8 in the morning until the sun goes down at night, you just gotta protect yourself. Sun glasses, hats to save your face. A lot of sunscreen, you always have to keep hydrated too. A lot of water, Gatorade, and Powerade." says Kindrick-Legion Field Head Groundskeeper Darren Jibben.

The hours are long and can be exhausting, as Jibben says this past weekend with a Legion baseball tournament he worked over 70 hours...in just four days!

One of the main focuses in Rookie ball is to get the players ready for the next step in their professional careers. And in this organization, those aren't the only ones that could be seeing the "Big Leagues" soon.

Brewers manager Joe Ayrault lights up when talking about Jibben, "Just when you say his name, first think I think of is "Big League." Even last night, the lights were on at midnight and he's preparing the field. Last year, ten o'clock at night , we had a Legion Tournament here, and here the guy is mowing at ten at night.!"

Jibben admits moving up the later is in the cards, "That would be my ultimate goal, to get a full-time assistant, or a head grounds-keeper position for a Major League Baseball team."

From mowing, raking, and moving tarps all over the field, the one act fans ask most about is why a hose is constantly getting the dirt on the field wet.

"With this infield material, it's pretty much 60% clay, and it needs moisture. With that clay, if it dries out, it gets rock hard, and it will start cracking." explains Jibben.

"I mean, when you think of some of the other fields around the league that are soft on the infield, a little rocky or hard...I mean he definitely has the right mixture working right now with the dirt. IT's a smooth surface on our infield, and the infielders love playing on it." elaborates Ayrault.

And it's not just about doing a job. It's about maintaining a certain level of excellence and presentation.

"I want this field to look good, it's kind of my pride and Joy. I always want to have it mowed nice, edged nice, make it look good for my sake, but also for the players and fans too, so they can come up to the ballpark and see a good looking field." says Jibben.

As Darren and his Fiancee move to Sacramento after the season, the organization loses a key member of the team, but all wish him well as he looks to continue his career.

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