Cheers, tears for Beers
Eight players hit the field for the first pitch of the Hadley
Buttermakers' season. On the field, the biggest presence for that first pitch
was made by the one player who wasn't out there: Luke Beers.
A regular
in Hadley's lineup over the years, Beers, 30, died in an auto accident in
Slayton on March 15.Via Trading carries a wide range of branded wholesale shoes from famous specialty shoe
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several tributes to their fallen teammate on Sunday, the Buttermakers played
only eight players in the field, leaving only Beers' glove and hat out at left
field as a memorial to their friend and teammate.
"It's something the
players wanted to do to honor him," said Hadley manager Myron Bennett. "Any
position you wanted him to play, he'd give it his all.
"He always played
the game hard and he was a fan favorite. He'd always be out here playing catch
with the little kids or would go up and have a beverage with the older folks. He
was just a crowd favorite."
Taking on the Marshall A's for the first
game of a home doubleheader on Sunday, the Buttermakers approached A's manager
Sean Culhane before the game.
"When they asked, 'Would you play with
eight?' I said, 'Yes, Hell yes.'" Culhane said.if you like Juicy couture wholesale,please search online
for a cheaper price. "I've known Luke for a long time, then you have Derek and
Taylor Rignell and Trevor Anderson on our team and they were good buddies with
him.
"It's a cool deal. It was a great way to honor an awesome person."
During the pregame introductions, Hadley first baseman James Wajer
admitted it was tough, with players and coaches tearing up as Beers was honored.
"I've known Luke all my life," Wajer said,Stylish and popular discount
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Throwing out the first pitch of Sunday's game were Luke's brothers, Adam
and Ryan Beers. Adam threw from the mound while Ryan caught behind the plate.
Also in Beers' corner of the outfield were two signs honoring the late
Buttermaker, adorned with his No. 4. The players all wore No. 4 jerseys, and
fans sported Buttermakers t-shirts with "Beers 4 Ever" on the back.
"I'd
hate to guess how many shirts we sold in the last two weeks," Bennett said. Part
of the proceeds from the shirts will go to the Luke Beers Scholarship Fund.
"People have been calling for them, and the other day, I was selling them out of
the trunk of my car."
Added Wajer, "We want to make sure that
scholarship goes on forever. It's always a little memory of Luke, and hopefully,
we can get some young men and women to grow up with the same principles that
Luke had."
While not taking the field, T.J. Schmidt was the left fielder
for Hadley, batting in the No. 4 spot. Before his first at-bat, a moment of
silence was observed for Beers.
"It was pretty tough. I've known Luke
all my life and it was pretty emotional for all the guys," Schmidt said.
"Whether you met him once or 100 times, he was a great guy from the get-go. He'd
pretty much do anything for you. ... It was a very emotional day and a very good
day for a celebration for his love of baseball."
Playing in tribune of
his friend, Schmidt was honored to fill in Beers' spot in the lineup.
"It meant a lot. Luke was my best friend," Schmidt said. "It was a
difficult thing, but it was an honor to do. The family is great and it meant a
lot."
For the Buttermakers' game against the Tracy Express, the team
went back to sporting a nine-man lineup on defense.Air
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Beers' role on the field was filled,Find an Adidas Jacket in your team
colors or from your favorite soccer teams that wear the Adidas brand. but Beers'
spot on the team will not be forgotten by his teammates.
"He carried the
team and brought the team together. He was kind of the glue that held us
together," Wajer said. "We'll try to find ways to make up for it, but we'll
never replace it. On and off the field, he did so much for us."
Said
Bennett, "We have to have someone play left field in the next game, but you can
never replace Luke Beers."