Bridgewater Baseball Field Named 'Field of Distinction'

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Somerset County Park Commission was recognized for maintaining a "Field of Distinction" at Torpey Athletic Complex in Bridgewater.

It was among two statewide awards given to the Commission for baseball fields at two complexes from the Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey (SFMANJ).

The awards recognize not only the quality of the fields but also the dedication and commitment of the Park Commission’s staff to improving the safety, playability, and appearance of the fields.

Rick De Leon, Foreman at Mountain View Park, and his team of Chris Benko, Brian Kelly, and Dustin Holaday won the "2025 Field of the Year" award for youth baseball Field #4 in Hillsborough.

Dave Kuczynski, Senior Athletic Field Specialist, and his team of Bob Disko and Lou Lauterborn at the Torpey Athletic Complex in Bridgewater were also recognized for maintaining a "Field of Distinction" by the organization.

"The talent and skills of the Somerset County Park Commission’s staff like Rick and Dave stand out throughout the state, and what makes that possible is the excellent budgeting and training provided by the Commission," said Scott Bills, CSFM, Chairman of the SFMANJ Field of the Year Committee. "The industry is truly appreciative of what Somerset County does to promote safe, playable natural grass athletic fields."

Mountain View Park’s athletic fields include two adult baseball fields, four youth baseball fields, and one special needs challenger field. Six of the fields are grass and lighted for evening and night play, which requires daily maintenance, grooming, and upkeep by the staff.

Additionally, the complex sees as many as 80 league and tournament baseball games in a single weekend through the spring and summer, often requiring weekly rebuilding of mounds, batter’s boxes, and batting cages in addition to regular maintenance.

"The young athletes who play on these fields rely on us to provide a high-quality field and amenities to play on, not just for the playability but also for their safety," said De Leon. "We take this very seriously, and in addition to daily maintenance and repairs we are consistently improving the fields with updated materials, safety features, and new techniques to ensure everyone has a great experience."

The Frank "Nap" Torpey Complex consists of one grass baseball field, one grass softball field, and one synthetic turf multi-purpose athletic field, including a thousand-seat bleachers for spectators. The fields are maintained to the highest standards and are fully utilized by schools, municipal recreation departments, and the general public.

Leagues or tournament organizers who are interested in playing at the Somerset County Park Commission’s award-winning fields should call 908-722-1200 Ext. 5225 for Mountain View Park or 908 722-1200 ext. 5371 for the Torpey Athletic Complex reservations.

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