Staff report

The Prescott School District started out its home season with a dedication of the Jackue Riley Softball Complex.

Riley died in 2016. A big Cardinal softball fan, her family donated $25,000 to the Prescott Fast-Pitch Association. A ceremony was held to honor Riley.

Following is the statement read as her family and Riley’s memory were honored.

“The Prescott School District, The Prescott Fastpitch Association, Prescott Community Recreation and the PHS Softball Program are thrilled to have the Riley family here today to honor Jackie Riley and all she meant to Prescott and her involvement in youth athletics.

“The community was fortunate to have a person like Jackie that was always involved in an abundance of ways in numerous roles and capacities. Jackie was continuously working for the betterment of all programs and especially the softball program in all her efforts to assist and grow the opportunities for the kids. Whether it was coaching, being active on boards and overseeing associations, keeping scorebook, running concession stands or cheering from the stands, Jackie was one-of-a-kind with her dedication and commitment to helping others, while being supportive and advocating for kid’s involvement on all fronts.

“We greatly appreciate Mike Riley and his family and their generosity over the years and especially with an extremely generous donation that made this entire fence project a reality.”

Prior to the Riley Family donation, the Prescott Fastpitch Association (PFA) raised more than $20,000 the past several years to make field improvements at Biggs Frey Field.

PFA is especially grateful to the American Legion for allowing them to host chicken fry’s, Broad Street Bar & Grill for hosting meat raffles, the annual PFA Youth Softball Clinic, Prescott Foundation, the CAB company, and all those who volunteered their time and talents to help along the way.

The most notable additions because of those efforts are a newly built concession stand, the re-siding of the press box, work on the dugouts, and the softball field in general.

PFA also received a grant from the Minnesota Twins while pulling together plans for putting up a permanent outfield fence, and found community sponsors, many of which you can see on the outfield fence, to help fund the final project.

“After Mike and his family approached us, we quickly started pulling together our broader plans to make more upgrades to our High School Softball field – and you can see how that was used. Thanks again to the Riley Family and to ALL of YOU in the community for YOUR support. We truly have something to be proud of with an outstanding facility and a strong softball program for Prescott. If Prescott Softball had a Mount Rushmore, Jackie Riley would be on it!”

Photos by Gaylen Bicking.