News and events

 

BLUFFTON REMEMBERS; ONE-YEAR LATER

One year ago this week, the Bluffton University baseball team experienced an accident that would forever change the lives of the players, coaches, their family and friends and the Bluffton campus community. This week, the team, supported by a crowd of 250 family members, friends and Bluffton alumni, played the game they never got a chance to play last March, competing against Eastern Mennonite University on a Sarasota Christian High School baseball diamond in Sarasota, Fla.

"These two teams of fine student-athletes and coaches share a common history," said Bluffton University president Dr. James M. Harder during his pre-game comments on March 2. "They were to play each other on this same field one year ago today. But the game never occurred due to the Bluffton team’s bus accident early that morning. Now, exactly one year later, this first game of Bluffton’s 2008 season is a game full of hope and new beginnings."

On March 2, 2007, the Bluffton baseball team was traveling to Sarasota, when its charter bus fell off of an overpass in Atlanta, Ga., killing four student-athletes, the bus driver and the bus driver’s wife, and injuring 28 others. A fifth student-athlete died one week later.

The nine-inning game between the Beavers and the Royals one year later ended in a 4-3 victory for the Royals, but the day was not about winning and losing.

"In so many ways, this game has deep meaning and significance," said Harder. "It’s a game played in the presence of many parents, friends, alumni and well-wishers who have come to show their support. It’s also a game played in the memory of five from the Bluffton team - Zachary Arend, David Betts, Scott Harmon, Cody Holp and Tyler Williams - whom we will always hold close to our hearts."

The Beavers will spend the remainder of the week in Ft. Myers, Fla., playing in the Gene Cusic Classic. They will have nine games during the six-day series.

"We’re going to spend our week here doing what we came down here to do: play baseball," said Bluffton head coach James Grandey. "We knew coming down here that we’d have a lot of emotions with us, but that’s to be expected. The players are focused on doing what they can, and right now, that means playing baseball."

On March 12, the Bluffton campus and community will hold a Service of Remembrance to reflect on the experiences of the 2007 team, and remember the five student-athletes. The service will begin at 7 p.m. in Founders Hall and the public is invited. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Prior to the public service, a private memorial for the 2007 players, their families and the bereaved families will be held to dedicate the Circle of Remembrance, one of the components of the lasting campus memorial.

As announced last spring, the Bluffton University campus memorial includes three integrated components. First, the baseball diamond has been formally named Bluffton University Memorial Field. Currently, this is the only "named" outdoor performance field on Bluffton’s campus.

The second component is an interpretive and reflective "Circle of Remembrance." This was created in consultation with James Bassett, campus landscape architect and Bluffton University trustee. The Circle of Remembrance is composed of a circular walkway on a low rise adjacent to shallow right field, with a limestone-capped, brick semi-circular wall, benches and landscaping that provides an area for gathering and reflection. There are five stone benches and five Crusader Hawthorn trees, along with commemorative plaques that explain the accident and remember the personal qualities of the five student-athletes.

The Circle of Remembrance also features a centerpiece sculpture, "Touching Home," by Gregg Luginbuhl, Bluffton faculty-artist, which connects symbolically and visually with home plate on the adjacent Memorial Field. The sculpture expresses themes of remembrance, team and community in a way that invites connection and reflection. The permanent artwork, cast in bronze, is currently in final production by the White River Foundry, Spencer, Ind.

The final component of the memorial project features a number of enhancements to the playing field. The improvements include a new infield, laser-leveled and sodded, with Alabama red clay mixed in. New Major League-style sunken dugouts, large enough to accommodate teams and their equipment, have been built. Between them is a new 30-inch brick backstop wall topped with 25-foot high mesh netting. The layout of the backstop and dugouts is patterned after Chicago’s Wrigley Field. In addition, bull pens were moved closer to the dugouts and black vinyl fencing has been installed. Two permanent outdoor batting cages have been added adjacent to left field. Additional landscaping will be added as spring weather allows.

The entire memorial project has been made possible largely as a result of memorial gifts and donated materials/services that have come in from across the nation. The total memorial project cost will be more than $350,000. Bluffton University received $208,000 in gifts designated for the memorial project, including $50,000 from Major League Baseball, $10,000 from Bluffton University students and $10,000 from Tiffin University students. Companies involved in the construction and development of the project contributed $90,000 in materials and services. The $52,000 additional construction costs are being covered by Bluffton University. The campus community is appreciative of the many memorial gifts to the project and will acknowledge the role of donors on a plaque at the baseball field.

Weather-permitting, the Beavers will open on their home field on March 18 versus Muskingum College.

Robin Bowlus, public relations office, 3/3/08