Super Regional weekend marks last big softball event for retiring grounds crew director

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou softball team is hosting Duke this weekend in the 2024 NCAA Columbia Super Regional, but there's another team who's got an important role of their own out at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

The University of Missouri Athletics Sports Turf and Grounds Crew puts in hours of work preparing the field for play, with extra touches this weekend for the road to the College World Series.

Director Jerry Cummings said depending on the day, they can sometimes arrive at 7:30 a.m. and not leave until 11 p.m.

"We strive to do the best we can each and every game," Cummings said.

The crew of four does everything from mowing the outfield, dragging the infield, painting logos, fixing bullpens, painting foul lines and doing everything they can to get the field ready for play.

Turfgrass Specialist Steve Schluckebier said they usually show up about four hours before game time to be able to get everything done.

"This canvas is just as special for the fans as it is the players, because everyone that comes here is going to get a memory, as well," Schluckebier said. "It's our job to make sure they get a good memory out of it and provide a good field for them."

This weekend will also be a special memory for Cummings.

Cummings is retiring this year after nearly 30 years of working for the university. He said what has kept him here so long is the softball program.

"It's funny because I don't watch sports, I'm not a fan of any pro sports. But, the softball community is just so much different than any other community I've been in across the board sports-wise," Cummings said.

He said his spot on the university's grounds crew is a job that he kind of just fell into. Cummings initially searched for a career in wildlife management before starting with the university back in 1994, and initially thought he'd only work there for a few years.

But now, 30 years later, he knows everything worked out like it was supposed to.

"I was the softball guy," Cummings said. "I was here for every game, whether it was spring or fall games. (I) started get to knowing the ladies way back in the early 2000s, investing in them and they invested in me."

He said the players, coaches, fans, guests and even some visiting team coaches are all what make the Mizzou softball atmosphere so great. He said the softball family is what he'll miss in retirement.

"I told my wife, I said, 'I don't know how to tell you, but I've got hundreds of daughters all over this nation,' because they are," Cummings said with a laugh. "I don't have ownership in them, but I sure have a lot of respect for them."

Those feelings are reciprocated. The softball team honored Cummings with a special jersey earlier in the 2024 season.

"(Cummings and Schluckebier) just take such great pride in their craft and making sure that it's a beautiful stadium, that it plays well," MU softball head coach Larissa Anderson said.

"It was a complete surprise," Cummings said. "And for the team to show that amount of respect to me meant a lot."

While the MU softball program means so much to him, Cummings said it's also the most demanding sport he works on. In his role as Director of Sports Turf and Grounds, he and Schluckebier are responsible for all 107 acres of Mizzou grounds, including taking care of the sporting facilities and the mowing.

As of Thursday, Cummings said they had both already put in 80 hours for the week.

"It's inordinate, the number of hours that we put in to create our craft," Cummings said.

While he will miss the daily grind, Cummings said he knows the softball field is in good hands once he retires.

Schluckebier has been taking over the day-to-day of the softball field for the past two years, and said Cummings has left a definite impact on the program.

"Working in Columbia for as long as I did, I had heard how good of a guy Jerry was and how dedicated he was, and getting to actually be with him for these two years, you just get to see it up close," Schluckebier said. "He leaves that impression on everybody. It's definitely something that you're blessed to have and be around and you're going to miss him after he's gone, for sure."

As the season nears it's end, Cummings said things have been very bittersweet.

"It's what I've known for so many years, especially softball, it's always kind of been my wheelhouse," Cummings said. "This year has been kind of a culmination of all the years put together."

He referred to the team as a perennial with all of their years of success.

Cummings and his wife made the trip down to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the Women's College World Series the past few times the Tigers made it back in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and is hoping to be able to do that again this year.

"My dream and hope is one of my exit interviews, whenever that is, would be watching my Lady Tigers play in the College World Series," Cummings said.

The Tigers fell to Duke 6-3 on Friday afternoon. Missouri hosts the Blue Devils in Game 2 at noon Saturday. If the Tigers can win on Saturday, Game 3 will be played on Sunday in Columbia.