By IAN WILSON
Riley Martin was passionate about baseball and those at his home ballpark have shown him plenty of love right back over the years.
The 17-year-old from Brooks – who passed away a decade ago after being diagnosed with cancer – is being honoured ahead of the Bombers home game on May 31st against the Okotoks Dawgs.
“He was a multi-sport athlete, however, his two favourite sports were hockey and baseball. But baseball was his true favourite. He excelled at it and had a very promising future,” said Jason Thomasen, the past president of the Bombers.
“That all changed when Riley was diagnosed with cancer. He battled the disease with everything he had and ultimately lost his battle … it was heartbreaking for the entire community and especially for his family.”
Riley died shortly before Brooks Regional Ballpark opened. The Bombers joined the Western Major Baseball League, the predecessor of the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), a couple years later in 2016.
Jason Wandler, the general manager of the Bombers, had coached Riley in baseball and made a connection with the aspiring athlete. He and Thomasen discussed different ways they could celebrate the teenager with Riley’s parents, Scott and Teresa. A number of donations had also been made in Riley’s honour to Brooks Minor Ball.
“That’s where we started talking about having the new scoreboard installed at Elks Field with his name on it as a lasting tribute to his memory with the money that had been donated. It surely gives Jason and I an immense amount of pride when we look at the scoreboard every day we are at the field,” said Thomasen.
In addition to the recognition on the scoreboard, a pair of memorial baseball tournaments have also been created in Riley’s name, including one for Little League players and another for high school athletes.
“Scott and I both grew up in Brooks and have supported both of our children through baseball, hockey, golf and the organizations that run them,” said Riley’s mother, Teresa.
“Scott, Riley and his sister Reese all have a passion for sports, and although Riley is gone and Reese is no longer involved in minor sports, we carry that love forward to all of the kids who want to play ball in Brooks. Jason Wandler started the first Riley Martin Memorial Ball Tournament the year following his death with the BCHS (Brooks Composite High School) Tournament and it evolved into Brooks Minor Ball being included. Before this tournament, Brooks had no home tourneys, so it was the right time to include Riley’s memory and his love of the game into something that could benefit the kids of Brooks. We are incredibly grateful to our hometown and the Bombers for honouring Riley this way and know that his legacy will live on.”
Added Teresa: “Riley would be humbled and honoured to have the community and the Bombers honour his legacy. Riley never liked to draw attention to himself but I know that he would be proud to be remembered as being a great kid, player and teammate … when you lose a child, it devastates your life and the one thing you know is that you never want people to forget him.”
This weekend, a special ceremony at the west end diamonds of Brooks Regional Ballpark will see the name of that section of the facility officially changed to Riley Martin Memorial Ballpark.
“Riley’s name will live on in Brooks forever and carry a special place in all of our hearts forever,” said Thomasen.
