Overview:
The newly renovated Little League ball field in Phillipston has been dedicated to Jim Praplaski and the late Wayne Richard, who were instrumental in its creation. The field was restored with funding from the Select Board and help from the fire and highway departments, and a golf tournament has been planned to raise funds for future improvements. The dedication ceremony was a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of those involved, and the field will now be known as the Wayne Richard-Jim Praplaski Little League Field.
PHILLIPSTON – On Sunday, Sept. 28, a dedication ceremony took place at the newly renovated Little League ball field behind the Phillipston Memorial Building, honoring Jim Praplaski and the late Wayne Richard.
“This dedication is long overdue,” said Garret Foley, organizer and speaker at the ceremony. “Without Wayne and Jim, this field wouldn’t exist. It would still just be a swamp or a hole.”
Foley described the field’s condition before restoration: “It had a bad grub problem. There was no grass left in the L field. It was pretty ugly.”
He explained that funding from the Select Board allowed professional treatments, while the fire and highway departments helped keep the field wet and cleared brush. Foley also praised the crew who worked on the field, noting the “unbelievable number of hours” devoted to restoring the grounds.
“It’s not quite finished, but in the spring we hope the new grass is fully grown and starts to green up,” he said. “We now have grass in the outfield and none in the infield – that’s a win.”
“This dedication is long overdue. Without Wayne and Jim, this field wouldn’t exist. It would still just be a swamp or a hole.”
Garret Foley
The idea for the dedication grew from a golf tournament organized in memory of Wayne Richard by Hank Sticky and Pat Kelly.
“We got together and decided that this would be a great way to not only honor Wayne, but to thank Jim for his contributions and give this field the name it deserves,” Foley said.
The tournament is planned to be annual, with funds going toward future field and dugout improvements.
Foley also shared a memorable week of volunteer work, when an eagle circled the field three days in a row.
“The third time around, I swear I heard Wayne’s voice saying ‘You guys are doing it all wrong. What are you doing?’” Foley said.
The sign for the newly-renovated field, officially named the Wayne Richard-Jim Praplaski Little League Field, was unveiled during the ceremony. Kimberly Richard, Wayne’s widow, and Praplaski helped Foley lift the cover as the audience applauded.
Praplaski recalled the site in the early 1990s, when it was “all woods and a hole.” He said a local family donated fill, and he contributed materials himself, carrying the project only partway until 2012, when Wayne secured additional funding. Praplaski also remembered being asked if he wanted to step aside.
“They said, if you don’t want to do it, I’ll ask Pete Lyman. I thought to myself for about two seconds and said, ‘Forget that. I don’t want Pete Lyman to do it,’” he said with a laugh.
Jessica Pineryo, Praplaski’s daughter, said her father has been involved with baseball his whole life and has watched generations of kids play on the field, including his own children and grandchildren.
“I think it’s really cool that they named the field after him,” she said. “He’s like, ‘I don’t deserve it, that guy deserves it.’
Kimberly Richard expressed gratitude toward those who helped make the project possible.
“I want to thank Garret,” he said. “He’s done so much for us.”