Ben grew up in Smithville, Missouri and his love for maintaining a baseball field came long before college. Ben played baseball for 16 years including through college. Once in high school, he started to fall more in love with maintaining the field than playing on it. Ben's first job was on a local golf course on the grounds crew at the age of 15 and that's where it all began.
Majoring in Turfgrass Management at Iowa Central in 2017, Ben jumped right into the sports turf world. He took an internship with the Kansas City T-Bones on the Grounds Crew the summer after graduating which led to a fall internship on the Grounds Crew with the Houston Astros. Ben got to be a part of the 2017 World Series run of the Houston Astros. It's tough the way that team will be remembered but was still an incredible experience getting to work at such a high level during the playoffs.
In 2018 Ben stayed on with the Astros and became a game day grounds crew member. While working game days he also was an assistant superintendent at a 27-hole country club in Houston. Often working from 4 am-3 pm at the golf course then would get to the ballpark and work from 4 pm-11 pm at the ballpark.
At the start of 2019, Ben took a new role as the Assistant Groundskeeper for the Round Rock Express just outside of Austin, Texas. The Dell Diamond is known for its unique events outside of baseball and this became an incredible learning opportunity to host all events plus a 90-baseball game schedule at a higher role in management. Ben was a part of Rugby, Football, Soccer, Bull Riding, multiple concerts, CrossFit games, plus the state championship of Texas High School Baseball and a full minor league season. Through the 2020 Covid season Dell Diamond still put on socially distanced, safe events. Ben played a role in helping those events happen.
At the start of March of 2021, the Head Groundskeeping job for the Wind Surge was brought to Ben's attention, just a few weeks later Ben accepted his first Head Groundskeeping job with the Wind Surge.
There is a saying out there that goes "the days are long, but the years are short." This couldn't be truer as Ben reflects on four seasons completed with the Wind Surge. He looks forward to year five and many more. Ben enjoys discussing field related issues and topics with anyone who asks. Feel free to reach out for any field need or questions you may have!