Fort Plain Little League coaches honored, jerseys retired

FORT PLAIN, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Community members, coaches and players gathered Saturday for Fort Plain Little League’s opening day, holding a special ceremony to honor those they’ve lost in the baseball community.

Kids and coaches took the field with heavy hearts Saturday afternoon, playing ball for the first time in about five years without two of their favorite coaches.

“It’s hard to go on without them, really hard,” said Chris Putnam, president of Fort Plain Little League.

James Randall and Shawn Clemons were coaches with Fort Plain Little League for about four to five years. Their lives were cut short after getting hit by a car this past January. Chris Putnam, president of the Fort Plain Little League said both men were pillars of the baseball community.

“James was a give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back type of guy, we could come down to the field he’d be down here — fixing something that he thought was wrong, he’d fix it and just never ask for a dime,” said Putnam. “He was here for the guys, he was here for the kids, I mean Shawn was the same way.

Alyssa Fisher, who is Clemons cousin, agreed. She said Clemons was not only accepting and welcoming but also artistic when it came to helping with the field.

“He was great, he honestly accepted everyone, he could mad at you one day and then the next day, he’d say lets go hit a ball or lets go to breakfast,” said Fisher.

For players like Kobe Skiffington, Clemons played a huge role in his baseball career.

“He taught me a lot of things like how to catch and how to throw it down to second base and all that,” said Kobe.

“He [Kobe] wasn’t going to play this year,” said Putnam. “But two years ago, Shawn gave him a set of catchers gear and he found out Shawn had passed and made his mom sign him up. He’s playing this year for Shawn.”  

Plus, Kobe isn’t the only one playing for his coach. Dozens of players took the field Saturday proudly wearing the jerseys of the coaches they held dear. The jerseys were donated by the Dwyer Foundation with the help of Montgomery County officials like county executive Pete Vroman and Department of Health Director Sarah Boerenko.

“When they lost these two gentlemen, it was a time of need and it just made sense for us to support the community,” said Boerenko.

75 jerseys with the names Randall and Clemons were donated to both players, family members and coaches — giving them something they can hold onto forever. However, Putnam said Saturday was the last time anyone would be wearing these jersey numbers on the field.

“We are also retiring their numbers. A small gesture to acknowledge the enormous contributions they made to our community,” said Putnam.

Now, the numbers 12, 18 and 19 will be seen hung high underneath the scoreboard. 19 is the number Bo Baker wore as a player with Fort Plain Little League. Unfortunately, Baker died in 2013 at only 21 years old. He had such a large impact on the baseball community, Putnam decided to not only retire his name and number alongside Randall and Clemons, but to name the field after him.

“As we dedicate this little league baseball field in his name, we remember a life that was full of promise and potential cut far too short,” said Putnam.

All three jersey numbers were officially retired on Saturday. A gesture that Putnam hopes can continue on their profound legacies.

“That way they’re always here, they’re never forgotten, they’re here. Every kid can look out there and some 20 years from now they’ll be like who is Clemons? And we can tell them you know, that way their legacy lives on through us,” said Putnam.   

Family members of the victims also got to throw the first pitch of the game Saturday afternoon. As for the players, Kobe and his teammates played their hearts out. Through mistakes, cheers and even some tears, they did it for their coaches.

“I wouldn’t be a catcher today if he wasn’t, if he wasn’t my coach,” said Kobe.

“Bo, Shawn and James may be gone but their legacy will live on through the countless lives they touched,” said Putnam.