Lakota's Jack Widman gets to play on field with family connections
Tom Rich would have loved to have seen great grandson, Lakota's Jack Widman, play baseball, particularly in Fremont at SJCC complex he helped create.
Thomas Rich would have loved to see Jack Widman play baseball at St. Joseph Central Catholic's Naderer Sports Complex. Rich approached Pete Naderer hoping to buy the land with a diamond in mind.
Instead, Naderer donated much more, and the complex was built in 2004. Widman, who is Rich's great grandson, earned the victory on the mound for visiting Lakota against the Crimson Streaks in a 9-2 win for the Raiders. Widman probably wouldn't have been there if not for Rich.
"My great grandpa was one of the founders," the Lakota senior said. "I didn't really get to know him too well; he died when I was really young. To pitch for his memory, he's looking down on me.
It's really special. " High school baseball Fundamentally, Oak Harbor baseball not afraid of anyone Rich, who graduated from SJCC in 1944 and died in 2014, always loved baseball and the Crimson Streaks. Rich, Naderer and Pete Bush formed the 300 Club to raise funds for the project, and Rich even helped with the electrical/wiring.