VFW FRIEND OF BASEBALL AWARD GOES TO RICHTER

    BJ Richter of Hecla was the recipient of the VFW Friend of Baseball Award at the state U14 Delta Division Tournament held in Britton last weekend.
    The award is given to individuals that go the extra mile to make sure that kids of all ages get to experience the game of baseball.  The VFW gives this award to people who have volunteered their time for the good of baseball and Richter was selected for his hard work and dedication to Britton’s baseball and softball complex.
    Richter has poured countless hours of volunteer labor into rebuilding a crumbling baseball facility. Dugouts were falling apart, weeds had taken over much of the space, lights didn’t work, fields didn’t drain, bleachers were treacherous, fence was falling down, and the area was a sad reminder of what once was.
    But Richter had a big vision and even more passion to make the space a place that people of all ages could come and cheer on their favorite players and share in the joy of America’s pastime.  His vision included signature seating and little touches of personalization, new and safe lights, batting cages, and playable fields among many other features making this space enjoyed by many.
    He dreamed of a ballpark and field that could be used for tournaments and that dream came true with the U14 state baseball tournament last weekend, thanks to Richter’s vision and hard work.
    “It’s always a wonderful thing to be recognized when you are part of something that’s new, changing, and growing,” said Richter.  “I certainly am not the centerpiece of this program.  A lot of people for a lot of years have done a lot of work, but it did need somebody to kind of spearhead some of the capital campaigns and renovations.  I had the opportunity to be able to contribute and it has been very, very fulfilling.”
    The project certainly presented numerous challenges, including the week of the state tournament when Mother Nature decided to drop a bunch of rain on the community.
    “Our very first challenge in renovating the field was adding drain tile,” said Richter.  “The sheer volume of dirt that needed to be moved and packed and replanted was a major hurdle and took 18 months.  It’s one of those things that when it works you never know it’s working, but if we didn’t have it there would have been zero chance of playing the state tournament with all the rain we had.  When we had that opening ceremony it was just a whirlwind of emotions but we were thrilled we were able to pull it off.”  
 
    Richter has been a life-long player of baseball. While growing up in Hecla, he played baseball as a kid and played Legion baseball for Groton. He went on to college to play baseball at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, MN, and after college he played with the Indiana Evansville Otters and then the Lincoln, Nebraska/Sioux Falls Canaries.  He has since become a coach for many teams in Britton.  His grandparents on both sides were also avid baseball backers as evidenced by the baseball field named Richter Field in Granite Falls, MN.
    “Baseball is what my family did for fun and as a child it was a super important thing for me,” noted Richter.  “Even when I graduated from college I was able to pitch in the state amateur tournament at age 23 and my Dad (Bill) was 53 and was my catcher.”
    That family connection and his love of the game were big motivators for the Friend of Baseball winner.
    “I spent a number of days and night working on the field and reminiscing about my grandparents,” recalled Richter.  “I often tell the kids that I coach that there is something magical about this sport played in the summer.  And in the end, whether you win or lose, is not really important.  What you won’t forget is the feeling being around the other jokers in the dugout, the road trips, the stories in the car, and getting the chance to compete with and know other young men playing the game.”   
    While Richter does appear in the dugout from time to time, you are far more likely to see him crouched down in a catching position behind the plate or in the bullpen.  And today fans can sit in the baseball/softball complex, enjoying another beautiful day of baseball, because of the initial vision of this man.