KINSTON, N.C. (September 3, 2026) – The Down East Bird Dawgs have been recognized with two of the Frontier League's post-season awards for 2026. Superior Metal Structures & Concrete Field at Historic Grainger Stadium has been named Field of the Year for the second consecutive year, and Spencer Pattison, the Bird Dawgs Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations, has been named the league's Robert Ford Broadcaster of the Year.

The Field of the Year award, voted on by representatives from around the league, recognizes the top playing surface in the Frontier League. Head groundskeeper Stephen Watson and the Bird Dawgs grounds crew were once again praised for their consistent work maintaining Grainger Stadium as one of the premier facilities in professional baseball.

"We strive every day to provide the best, safest, and most playable surface we can," Watson said. "I want to thank everyone who helps make that possible — our vendors, the City of Kinston, our front office and, most importantly, the assistant groundskeeper Nick Xiques and my crew. It's rewarding to know that so many people around the league, from coaches to managers, recognize the effort we put into this field."

Pattison, who is in his second year calling Bird Dawgs games, was named the Frontier League's Robert Ford Broadcaster of the Year for 2026.

"I'm honored and grateful to receive this award, but it really belongs to a lot of people," Pattison said. "Thank you to the Bird Dawgs front office for their constant support, and to my wife, Dayton, who is always in my corner. This league is full of great broadcasters, and I'm humbled just to be mentioned among them.”

The back-to-back Field of the Year honor further cements Grainger Stadium's reputation as one of the top facilities in professional baseball, while Pattison's award highlights the Bird Dawgs continued investment in bringing the game to fans both in the ballpark and beyond it.