Baseball coach, teacher honored at Appreciation Day Ceremony
WAYNESBURG — For four decades, Darwin Fitch has made a significant impact on the game of baseball in both Waynesburg and Greene County.
Over the years, he has coached thousands of players, watching them improve their skills while, at the same time, passing along his knowledge of the fundamentals of the game.
Fitch, 73, first got involved in coaching and teaching in 1977 when the Elks asked him if he would be interested in coaching its Little League team. The Waynesburg resident took on the assignment and has been involved in area baseball ever since without even missing a single season.
Hitting, catching, throwing, pitching, running the bases, stealing bases, situational awareness on the baseball diamond and sportsmanship – Fitch taught his charges all aspects of the game.
As a coach, Fitch also passed along his love of the game to two of his sons — Patrick and Jason (both pitchers), who played baseball in college at Waynesburg University (then called Waynesburg College) and at Garrett College, then California University of Pennsylvania, respectively.
Since day one, not only has Coach Fitch dedicated himself to improving the baseball skills of his players, but he was also instrumental in improving the condition of the field at Meadowlark Park. He put in countless hours of work and organized hundreds of fundraisers since he first began 40 years ago.
These efforts have enabled Coach Fitch to make the field at Meadowlark Park one of the finest, if not the finest, in Greene County.
Today, those who visit the field at Meadowlark Park in Waynesburg will see a beautiful field, very well maintained and remarkably landscaped.
Because of Coach Fitch’s significant contributions to baseball in Waynesburg and Greene County, a former player under Coach Fitch, Matthew Tedrow, and Coach Fitch’s sons, Patrick, Jaimie and Jason, planned a surprise Appreciation Day and Field Re-Dedication Ceremony at Meadowlark Park on Aug. 19.
On a bright and beautiful Saturday, Coach Fitch arrived at the field with accomplice Matt Tedrow, where he was welcomed by nearly sixty guests, including former baseball players and fellow coaches who joined Fitch on the diamond on many a summer day.
June Fitch, the coach’s wife of 50 years, was present, as were three of his siblings, two of whom had driven eight hours from New York to surprise him and be with him. Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman was also in attendance and made some remarks thanking Coach Fitch for his continuous work with the youth in Greene County and his contributions to Waynesburg baseball.
To slake the appetites and thirst of guests who came to honor Fitch, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, sodas, waters and Gatorade were available. To cap things off, the baseball field at Meadowlark Park was officially re-named Fitch Field by a resolution passed by the Waynesburg Borough Council earlier in the week.
According to his son, Patrick, Coach Fitch was surprised by the event and appreciated very much the family and friends who made the day possible. In reference to his father, Patrick Fitch, who serves as assistant district attorney for Greene County, cited a quote by legendary Los Angeles Dodger coach and Baseball Hall of Famer, Tommy Lasorda, who once said “There are three types of baseball players – those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.”
“Dad, you made it happen, and we love you,” Patrick Fitch said. “Thank you for all of the innings.”