Preparing for game day with the Flying Squirrels grounds crew

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- From mowing the lawn early in the morning to cleaning up fireworks at night, the Flying Squirrels grounds crew is hard at work ensuring baseball games at The Diamond run smoothly.

The shifts are often 14-16 hours, starting at around 8 a.m. and sometimes ending as late as midnight.

James Patrella, director of field operations, said mowing is first on the agenda each morning, which takes about two hours, "depending on how cool our pattern wants to be that week."

"I want a kid to come out and be like, 'wow the field was cool' or 'wow, they did that pattern,'" Patrella said.

Preparing the infield is the next step, which takes about another hour. By 1 p.m., the Flying Squirrels baseball team starts batting practice. The grounds crew is responsible for pulling down screens.

8News was told that the crew doesn't take lunch until around 3 to 4 p.m., and after that, it's game time.

During the baseball game, Patrella said, "we reset the field every three innings. So at the third, our crew does one and then we have our Molly Maids who go out and dance at the end of the sixth inning. We also help with any on-field promotions."

The crew keeps most of their supplies in what they call "the tunnel." There you can find lawn mowers, fertilizers, rakes, brooms, etc. It also grants easy, quick access in and out of the field.

At the end of the game, if fireworks go off, the grounds crew is responsible for cleaning them.

"Have fun, go nuts is in our saying so we try to embody that as much as possible," Patrella said.

Patrella also said that he is fueled by the passion amongst his colleagues as well as in the stands.

"I haven't worked anywhere else where they show up, they show out, they boo, they cheer, they care," Patrella said.

The Flying Squirrels are preparing to play their last season at The Diamond before moving to CarMax Park. Patrella, who has worked with the team for 11 years, said he never feels fully prepared for opening day.

"It's a different nervous this year knowing it's the last year at The Diamond [and] knowing we're shutting this place down next year," he said.

Additionally, Patrella said his job will become completely different at the new stadium. He anticipates expectations to go up.

When asked what makes the long days worth it, Patrella said "this" while looking around the baseball field. He ways the weather, his coworkers and the sport make it all worth it.