Prep Baseball: Field Of Honor
It's been a field where memories have been made and bonds have been forged.
Aside from his own residency, Jay Thompson has called Dorris Heights baseball field home for as long as he can remember.
Now, the field that Thompson played on, along with countless other ball players will have the opportunity to make more memories and forge other bonds, only this time with Thompson's name attached.
In a ceremony prior to Monday's game against SIRR Ohio foe West Frankfort, school administrators, along with Thompson's family, current and former teammates watched as the unveiling of the field was done in Thompson's honor with a banner being inserted under the scoreboard in right field.
It was an overwhelming moment for the current head coach at Harrisburg, who joked that these kind of dedications are done posthumous.
"This is very overwhelming," Thompson said. "I had heard they were going to do this, but I had no idea we would do it now. This was special. Just looking around and seeing all the older guys here, it reminds you how long you have been doing this. I saw lot of very good old friends today and that made this very special."
Thompson has ben a major fixture for the sport of baseball, getting his start at Harrisburg High School in 1982 and going to 1992. He came back in the spring of 1994 and coached until 2003, and in 2006 and has been the head coach from 2010 until now.
Not only has Thompson's presence been known at Harrisburg, but throughout the state of Illinois and beyond. He's built a successful program that currently has him as one of the state's Top 15 coaches.
Thompson has amassed over 700 career wins and currently sits with a record of 720-211-2 and a winning percentage of .773. Thompson ended the season last year ranked 11th on the state's wins list after starting his career in 1982.
Thompson won the IHSA State AA championship in 1989 and finished runner-up in 1991, 1992, 2003 and 2010.
He's won 20 IHSA Regional titles, eight Sectional titles, one Super Sectional and numerous conference titles and was recognized as one of the state's best when he was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
One of those old friends that Thompson saw Monday was 1987 graduate and owner of Hit Repair in Marion, Bobby Simpson, who shared his reaction to the field being dedicated in Thompson's honor.
"To me and Jay, I know every time I come to this field I think of his dad, John. I think of my dad, Roy, who are both deceased. Every time I come to this field, I only think of Jay and now for decades to come, that's all anyone is going to think when they come to this field and rightfully so. No one has done more for baseball in the whole - probably state than him."
John Thompson played on Dorris Heights Field in the early 1960's and Jay's brother Jeff was batboy for the Post 167 American Legion team in the late 60's.
As for Jay, he played on the field now bearing his name in the 1970's and coached his brother Joe, Jay's son Kirk and his nephews Caleb, Cooper and Sykes.
Like most things in a family's home, the memories, the times, the records - those things will be preserved and "Coach T's" legacy will remain intact.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
GO FIGURE
<p><strong>719</strong> carrer wins<br /><strong>20</strong> Regional Titles<br /><strong>8</strong> Sectional Titles<br /><strong>1997</strong><br />Inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association</p>