TheBoysMom Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Sunday, August 23, 2009 10:08 AM PDT By Erik Olson Their minds are focused on bringing the Babe Ruth World Series title down south to Nederland, Texas. But the hearts of the players and coaches of the Nederland 13-to-15-year-old team are with a former player that none of them knew. And they’re hoping to make a mark in his honor, 12 years after a tragedy in Longview rocked the small Gulf port town. Nederland is back in Longview for the first time since its starting left fielder, Chad Richard, was bicycling through town after a game in the 1997 World Series and ran into a parked pickup, hitting his head on the windshield. The 15 year old died several days later at the hospital. Team members are wearing a No. 4 patch on the sleeves of their jerseys to honor Richard. The number is retired for all Nederland Little League and Babe Ruth games, according to The (Port Arthur, Texas) News. “Every time you see it, you know what it represents,†Nederland manager Juan Rodriguez said. Nederland is a town of about 18,000 people on the Gulf Coast east of Houston, and baseball is big. Combined with players from nearby Port Naches-Groves, the Nederland squad finished third in the World Series last year, then went on an eight-game tear en route to winning the East Texas State Tournament. Nederland is a close-knit community, and was deeply wounded by Richard’s death, Rodriguez said. “It’s very emotional for the city,†Rodriguez said. (more at the link)
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