Hebron, Geneva to honor Peyton VanWesten, Garrett Klipp with memorial baseball game in Daykin Saturday
Hebron, Geneva to honor Peyton VanWesten, Garrett Klipp with memorial baseball game in Daykin Saturday
May 24, 2019Updated: June 18, 2019
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaDAYKIN - Meridian Schools, Daykin and the surrounding area were shaken this past spring when two pickups collided on Highway 15 just north of Western, taking the lives of senior Garrett Klipp, junior Peyton VanWesten and 74-year-old Fred Kujath.
The crash happened on March 17 just after 4 p.m.
It was a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon. Geneva's Cornerstone Bank Legion Baseball team had just wrapped up its first practice of the season.
Geneva inherited players from Meridian's disbanded legion team. Klipp played for Geneva last summer. His classmates, Peyton, and Kolby Schafer, joined the team this season.
On that Sunday, coach Craig Bowman, manager Martin Stewart and the coaching staff let practice out a half-hour early. Kolby, Peyton and Garrett headed for home.
“That's where the survivorship guilt came from,” Stewart said. “The coaching staff was beating themselves that they could have (practiced) for another half-hour, and (asking) what could have happened?
“The reality is, tragic accidents like that can happen, and you can't say 'what if' on that type of thing.”
More than two months have passed, and there have been many tributes. Geneva legion baseball, Daykin, and really the whole area, want to do more.
On Saturday afternoon at Freedom Field, Hebron and Geneva will play in the "Garrett Klipp and Peyton VanWesten Memorial Baseball Game," starting at 2 p.m.
The teams will play a doubleheader - each game lasting five innings.
The memorial pins, with Garrett and Peyton's initials on them, will be worn on every player's cap during Saturday's game.
Hebron will bat first. There'll be no swing on the first pitch. First and second base will also be left open. Peyton and Garrett are starting the game.
Garrett at first base, and Peyton at second.
“That's the positions they would have played,” Bowman said. “It'll be a tough game. Those two boys are greatly missed, ya know? I'm honored…they were great kids.”
Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. All proceeds will go toward the Garrett Klipp and Peyton VanWesten memorials.
The players will all wear memorial pins on their caps, and Garrett and Peyton's jerseys will hang in the Geneva dugout. Neighboring Bruning-Davenport/Shickley made a memorial banner that will hang in the outfield.
Matt VanWesten, Peyton's cousin, helped organize the game. He says this tribute is another example of Nebraskans helping one another in the face of tragedy.
“It's very special,” he said. “It's been kind of heartwarming to see everyone come together. We've had several volunteers help get the field ready. In small town Nebraska, we stand by each other. In good times and bad times.”
Audio story
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http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2019/05/Meridian-baseball.mp3
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.
The crash happened on March 17 just after 4 p.m.
It was a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon. Geneva's Cornerstone Bank Legion Baseball team had just wrapped up its first practice of the season.
Geneva inherited players from Meridian's disbanded legion team. Klipp played for Geneva last summer. His classmates, Peyton, and Kolby Schafer, joined the team this season.
On that Sunday, coach Craig Bowman, manager Martin Stewart and the coaching staff let practice out a half-hour early. Kolby, Peyton and Garrett headed for home.
“That's where the survivorship guilt came from,” Stewart said. “The coaching staff was beating themselves that they could have (practiced) for another half-hour, and (asking) what could have happened?
“The reality is, tragic accidents like that can happen, and you can't say 'what if' on that type of thing.”
More than two months have passed, and there have been many tributes. Geneva legion baseball, Daykin, and really the whole area, want to do more.
On Saturday afternoon at Freedom Field, Hebron and Geneva will play in the "Garrett Klipp and Peyton VanWesten Memorial Baseball Game," starting at 2 p.m.
The teams will play a doubleheader - each game lasting five innings.
The memorial pins, with Garrett and Peyton's initials on them, will be worn on every player's cap during Saturday's game.
Hebron will bat first. There'll be no swing on the first pitch. First and second base will also be left open. Peyton and Garrett are starting the game.
Garrett at first base, and Peyton at second.
“That's the positions they would have played,” Bowman said. “It'll be a tough game. Those two boys are greatly missed, ya know? I'm honored…they were great kids.”
Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. All proceeds will go toward the Garrett Klipp and Peyton VanWesten memorials.
The players will all wear memorial pins on their caps, and Garrett and Peyton's jerseys will hang in the Geneva dugout. Neighboring Bruning-Davenport/Shickley made a memorial banner that will hang in the outfield.
Matt VanWesten, Peyton's cousin, helped organize the game. He says this tribute is another example of Nebraskans helping one another in the face of tragedy.
“It's very special,” he said. “It's been kind of heartwarming to see everyone come together. We've had several volunteers help get the field ready. In small town Nebraska, we stand by each other. In good times and bad times.”
Audio story
document.createElement('audio');
http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2019/05/Meridian-baseball.mp3
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.