The guy who makes the field look easy.
Grass, dirt, water, weather, mowing patterns, moisture levels, game-day timing, and the kind of turf know-how that turns a ballfield into the stage where Mud Monsters baseball comes to life.
If the field looks perfect, plays true, and somehow survives Mississippi weather, you can thank Evan Berry. Or possibly his dog.
Part science, part art
Evan Berry is the Head Groundskeeper for the Mississippi Mud Monsters, the person responsible for making sure everything between the foul lines is exactly the way it should be. From mowing patterns to moisture levels to game-day readiness, his work shows up in every pitch, every hop, and every play.
A Leakesville native now living in Brandon, Evan brings years of turf management experience to Trustmark Park, along with the kind of pride that turns a field into something worth paying attention to.
The field doesn’t happen by accident
Around here, Evan is part scientist, part artist, and part problem solver. He’s the one making sure the surface is consistent, the visuals are sharp, and the conditions are ready no matter what Mississippi decides to throw at it.
It’s detailed work, often behind the scenes, but it’s the foundation for everything that happens once the game starts. The scoreboard can glow, the music can hit, and the crowd can get loud, but the night starts with the field being right.
Where weather becomes strategy
Groundskeeping is one of the great invisible arts of baseball. Fans see the finished product, but behind it are long days, early checks, late nights, constant adjustments, and a whole lot of decisions based on what the sky looks like and what the dirt feels like.
For Evan, that means staying ahead of the game before the game ever starts. A good field is not just pretty. It protects players, keeps the game moving, and gives every play a fair chance to happen the way it should.
The real boss might be Piper
Most days, you’ll find Evan out on the field with his Assistant Groundskeeper, Piper, a 10-month-old, 105-pound presence who takes her responsibilities and her snacks very seriously.
When they’re not at the ballpark, Evan, Piper, and his wife Kristen, better known as Suga Mama, are likely out on The Rez aboard their boat, the Suga Mama II. Piper, naturally, is listed as co-owner.
Monster Notes
A few quick facts from the muddy file.
- Role: Head Groundskeeper
- Originally from: Leakesville, Mississippi
- Now calls home: Brandon, Mississippi
- Experience: Biloxi Shuckers and Mississippi Braves
- Assistant Groundskeeper: Piper, a 10-month-old, 105-pound dog with serious ballpark credentials
- Boat: Suga Mama II, co-owned by Piper in spirit if not on paper
Around here, if the field is right, everything else has a chance to be. Evan helps make sure the stage is ready before the first pitch ever leaves a hand.