Leffert Stone Baseball Field Clinic
Saturday February 27, 2010
9:00 to 3:00
1st speaker 10:00 AM

Lunch Provided

Stay tuned, we will be posting YouTube videos of parts of the presentations.

 

Leffert Stone Company hosted a free Baseball Field Clinic on February 27, 2010 in the Lewis Cass High School Auditorium in Walton, Indiana.  We had a great line up of speakers giving presentations on a wide variety of topics concerning baseball field construction and maintenance.  Unlike most clinics the entire focus of this clinic is field work.  Getting it built, getting it looking good and keeping it playable.

This clinic was of interest to coaches, athletic directors, groundskeepers, school maintenance personnel, parks departments and all those involved in maintaining youth baseball fields.

Speakers:

Bill Marbet, a native of middle Tennessee, graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN.  While at MTSU he was a football letterman and was actively involved in various organizations.  After graduation, he coached football for three years before becoming involved in the retail sales business.  In 1996 he began a dream of his to own a business that dealt with baseball and softball field materials and construction.  Southern Athletic Fields was formed and through that his main goal was to improve the fields locally for the kids.  Once he got involved in this, his legacy grew not only in middle Tennessee, but statewide and now he is involved in fields from New York to California.  He has taken his passion for fields and through hard work and a great attitude, has grown Southern Athletic Fields into a company that employs 20 people and is well known nationwide for the products that SAF sells.  He is married to JoAnn Marbet and has two sons and three grandchildren. 

Bill will be presenting information on using mound clay for building mounds and batters boxes.  This will include design, layout and maintenance. 

 

Greg Marschand – graduate of Lewis Cass High School in 1972.  Marschand went to Columbus State University in Georgia on a baseball scholarship and played from 1972 thru 1976.  Columbus State won conference titles in 74, 75 and 76 and was ranked as high as #3 in the nation with NCAA Division II.  Columbus State was crowned National Baseball Champions in 2002.  Marschand was voted the team most valuable player in 1974 and again in 1976.  He was also inducted into the Columbus State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.  Marschand graduated from Columbus State in 1976 with a BS Degree and holds a Master Degree from Indiana University.
After graduating from Columbus State, Marschand came back to teach and coach in the Southeastern School Corporation.  He taught physical education from 1976 – 1998.  In 1998 he became Athletic Director at Lewis Cass.  In 1980 he became the Cass Head Baseball Coach.  Cass has been blessed to have over 75 players go on to play collegiate baseball.  Cass has won 8 conference baseball championships, 4 sectional championships, a regional championship and a semi state championship.  In 2009 the Kings were the IHSAA Class AA State Runner-ups.
Cass baseball is noted for its outstanding baseball facilities and its reputation of everyone working on the diamond….leading to player ownership.  As a result of former and present players hard work the baseball facility has become one of the best in the state.  Cass has been honored to host several tournaments over the spring and summer months. 
Coach Marschand has three children.  Ara Dixon and Carley Rawlings are both teachers in the Kokomo school system.  Son, Blake Marschand owns and operates Marschand’s Athletic Field Services.  Greg Marschand is married to the former Vicky Jamison of Logansport.

Coach Marschand will give us information on getting players involved in maintaining fields: Player Ownership

Joey Stevenson – A Dwight, IL native graduated from Purdue University in 2006 with a degree in Turf Science. While at Purdue he was active as Turf Club Treasurer and Turf Bowl team member, taking the top prize at each GCSAA and STMA national show his senior year. Growing up in rural Dwight on his 3200 acre family farm and FFA President, he got the itch to work in the turf industry at the age of 15 at Dwight Country Club. After 5 years of golf course work, Joey moved on to the Joliet Jackhammers where he served on the grounds crew for 2 summers. While obtaining high honors at Purdue University he was a graduate intern with the Kansas City Royals in 2006 and a summer intern with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005. After graduation he moved to Indianapolis to fulfill responsibilities as Assistant Groundskeeper for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. After a successful season and promotion of the Head Groundskeeper, Joey was also promoted to Head Groundskeeper in the fall of 2007. Currently Joey is entering his 3rd season as Head Groundskeeper for the Indians and continues to learn the business side of operations. He takes great pride in his quick career advancement and truly enjoys his field of work. Joey’s main goals are to continue to learn and advance up the ranks, while teaching and supporting students to become successful in classroom and in the turf industry.

Joey will present on the aspects of maintaining professional baseball fields.

 

Blake Marschand - Graduate of Lewis Cass High School in 1998. Three sport athlete in high school and also a member of the Cass Athletic Hall of Fame. Received a scholarship to play baseball at Chattahochee Valley Community College in Alabama, where he received an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. Blake then received a full ride scholarship to continue his education and play baseball at Hawaii Pacific University. Blake has been blessed to play baseball on some of the finest diamonds throughout the southern states, Hawaii and California.  Being a son of a baseball coach . . .  Blake has worked on baseball fields almost since the day he could walk.  He is now the owner of Marschand's Athletic Field Services.  Marschand's AFS is going on three years of serving Indiana High School's and Little League facilities in all their athletic field needs.  Blake and Tara are the proud parents of one year old daughter Kinsley. They reside in Kokomo, Indiana.

Blake will give us a presentation on using field mixes on your fields.  Filling in low spots and bringing fields to grade.