Bluffton Braves rename field after longtime coach, unveil several upgrades to local park

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The Bluffton Braves baseball field has seen some major upgrades and improvements over the past several years and are looking forward to not only a nicer spot to play ball, but increased usage of the field, which is a staple of the Bluffton community.

Improvements began two years ago when the entire outfield was disked up and reseeded to improve the look and hold of the field’s grounds.

“Of course that winter we didn’t get any snow so it didn’t come back very well,” said manager Terry Geiser. “So I overseeded it again last fall and fertilized it, and now with the rain we’ve had this spring and summer, it’s helped it a lot, so it looks pretty good out there now.”

Along with the new grass, a whole new backstop was put in. Between dugouts, the old one was completely taken out and a new one installed. A new scoreboard was also installed and was set to be in working order by this week.

“After this season, we’re going to get a new pump for the well and get a sprinkler system in there,” said Geiser. “As long as we’ve made all these upgrades, we may as well keep the field green.”

Geiser credited the Bluffton community, fans and players who have all pitched in to remodel the ballpark through the years. 

With these improvements, there will be some increased use of the field as well between little league games, junior high games, and the Babe Ruth team playing out there. One of the changes to the field was a surprise to Geiser when the scoreboard was installed bearing the new name of the ballfield: Terry Geiser Field.

“I did not know anything about it,” said Geiser. “It was a pretty humbling experience, let me tell you. Somebody had said it was going to be named after me, but I said ‘no, I don’t think we need it named after me.’ But it was pretty humbling, that’s all I can say. It’s cool, but it’s pretty humbling.

“Somebody told me you don’t usually name a field until after you’re dead,” he joked.

Along with a bevy of grandchildren, children, and his wife Donna, joining the Braves on the bleachers during each game, two of Geiser’s sons, Cody and Dustin, as well as his grandson, Gabe, are all active on the team this year.

“Cody’s wife Katie has also been very involved with all the stuff that’s going on at the ballfields,” Geiser said. “She has been instrumental in moving things along also.”

Geiser has been actively involved with the Bluffton Braves since 1972, when he joined the team as a 17-year-old. He spent time out there before that, however, since he was a toddler watching his dad play baseball.

“I’ve been going down there for a long time,” he said. “We have grandchildren coming up that are putting the Braves uniform on too. I couldn’t have done this without all the good people that I’ve been around, playing with, and are around the team right now. They’re good ball players, but they’re even better people, that’s why I’m still here.”