SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/714252
www.stma.org September 2016 | SportsTurf 33 temperatures. The heat created by the Green Monster can "also be our friend" to melt snow plowed from the fi eld and piled high against to the big green wall. For the past 4 years, he's also added a new machine to his equipment rotation called the Air2G2 from GT AirInject (winner of the 2015 STMA Innovative Award) to help ease compaction and reduce stress near the Green Monster, and other areas of the fi eld. The Air2G2 fractures the soil by inserting three probes up to a foot deep into the soil and injecting air (oxygen) at 6 to 7 inches deep, and again at 10 to 12 inches deep, with each drop. Injecting air laterally through the soil profi le creates pore space for water to drain and increases the gas exchange in the soil. "I think the machine is literally one of the most unique and innovative machines in my 32-year career," Mellor says. "We use it before and after concerts, we use it around our tarp before we dump our tarp (to allow water to quickly drain), we use it for general maintenance, and as a part of our turf management program of regular aerifi cation. It truly aerates the soil versus poking a hole in the ground and hoping air goes down in that hole. It relieves compaction and improves pore space. It helps with drainage. You know, roots grow in the pores of the soil. If you think of marbles in a jar, if there are little marbles and they're too tight, there's no pore space. I think of it kind of like fracking in the gas or oil industry, how it laterally creates pore space. This helps the grass breathe, it helps fl ush out gasses, reduce compaction, improve drainage and helps you have healthier turf. And what's great is, you can do it today and play today." Although Mellor still aerifi es in the spring and fall by pulling cores, with the Air2G2 "you don't have the labor and manpower issue of cleaning up cores or maybe being too aggressive on the turf in the heat of the day. We just had 7 consecutive days in the 90s and we used the Air2G2 and didn't have to worry about localized dry spots or stressing on turf. It's an important tool in our rotation of equipment." Mellor says his wife Denise knew when Joe Mooney called that they would move to Boston. The Mellors were Boston natives. His two older brothers, Chip and Terry, spent many summers at Fenway with their parents watching the Red Sox. Before he was born, the family moved to Ohio. When he was 3 years old, his father died, and Terry, 7 years older, and Chip, 12 years older, became his father fi gures. They encouraged him to grow up a rabid Red Sox fan. Now, with his job at Fenway Park, Mellor walks past the row of seats his family shared all those long summer nights ago. It's a visceral connection to his family, to this place. The gravity of it all is not lost on him. "It's an honor to be behind the scenes. It was certainly my dream to stand on the pitcher's mound at Fenway with a stadium full of people. I do that in a different way now," Mellor says. If he had never been hit by a car after high school and had made it as a pitcher in the Majors, Mellor says he probably would not have met his wife, had two beautiful daughters, spent more than 30 years as a sports turf manager achieving the high- est level of his profession. When he looks back, he is grateful for all he's experienced, both good and bad. "I am thankful, blessed and lucky to have my wife and daugh- ters in my life. Their love and support means more than words can describe. I also appreciate my friends and colleagues for their help and support, too. I'm extremely fortunate to have an incredible support network." Mellor says, "I think I am one of the luckiest people in the world." Stacie Zinn Roberts is president of the What's Your Avocado? Marketing Agency, Mount Vernon WA, WhatsYourAvocado.com. Full Infield Rain Tarp For price quotes, sizes, fabric specs and samples, visit www.CoverSports.com sales@coversports.com • 800-445-6680 We make and print covers for all athletic surfaces: Windscreens, EnviroSafe Stadium Padding, Growth Covers Standard Spot Cover with Stakes Infield Turf Protector Roller Cover FieldSaver. ® Save your field from rain and wear, and promote your brand with the Power of Branding.