Conestoga dedicates Pete Ricci Field in honor of beloved coach

Tredyffrin >> Following the Conestoga-Unionville softball game Saturday morning, Pete Ricci Field, the lower softball field at D’Ambrosia Park, was dedicated in a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people.

Ricci, who was a Tredyffrin/Easttown teacher and coach for more than 23 years, died of cancer on Dec. 15, 2019 at age 67. In Ricci’s final season as Conestoga softball head coach, the Pioneers were 20-4, won a Central League title for the first time in a dozen years, and advanced to the PIAA state tournament.

“Pete Ricci is beloved – he is a part of this community forever,” said Conestoga High school athletic director Kevin Pechin. “The outpouring of love for him today is outstanding. Kids that we’ve coached 15 years ago are here today. It’s hard to say how much of an impact he’s had on our community, but it’s definitely been an impact that’s staggering.”

A new plaque, sign and scoreboard have been erected at Pete Ricci Field in honor of the former Conestoga softball coach.

Conestoga softball coach Todd Whitlow said, “Pete was one of these coaches and people, who, when you met him, you were glad he was your friend, and he always influenced everyone around him in the most positive of ways. We miss him dearly but he’ll always be with us.”

Kevin Conaway, who coaches the Pioneers along with Whitlow, said, “Pete coached my daughters for a long time in various sports, and he was a part of our family – he was at our house all the time. He was a great individual, and Pete taught me an awful lot about being a coach – that’s the legacy that hopefully we can continue at Conestoga, his philosophy of coaching.”

The post-game dedication ceremony was organized with the help of Pete Ricci’s friends as well as the Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors, Tredyffrin Parks & Recreation, and the Parks Foundation.

A number of people spoke at the post-game dedication ceremony, including Pechin, Joe Barks of the Parks Foundation, and Conaway’s daughters, Emily and Lauren, who shared some light-hearted tales with the audience.

The Conestoga softball squad took the field at the post-game ceremony and sang, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”

Conestoga outfielder Allison Noll led the Pioneer players in a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” (Ricci was a Boston Red Sox fan).

Pioneer center fielder Kate Clement also spoke at the postgame ceremony.

“Coach Ricci was one of the most kind and selfless people I ever met in my life,” said Clement. “I’m so thankful I had the chance to play for him for two years. Shortly after meeting you, he would give you a nickname and a pat on the back. During my sophomore season, we were in the hunt for the Central League title while he was undergoing his cancer treatments. We looked for every day to be a victory, whether it was for Coach Ricci or for us on the field.

“I would not be where I am today if it were not for his guidance and support. As a leader, he told us to believe in ourselves, even though everyone may doubt you. As a friend, he taught me to let people know how much they mean to you.”

In the ballgame preceding the ceremony, Conestoga rallied heroically from a 6-1 deficit in the sixth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the Pioneers trailing 6-4, Conestoga shortstop Libby Winters slammed a two-run home run over the fence in center field to send the game into extra innings. Although the Pioneers (8-6) lost in extra innings to hard-hitting Unionville (9-5), the memory of the two-run blast was a sweet one for Winters.

“I thought a little about [Ricci] when I hit that home run,” said Winters. “It was sweet to hit it, especially on this day. It felt great.

“He meant a lot to me, he was able to keep the game light and fun, while still being serious, and that was a perfect balance for our team.”