Baseball field renamed

It was a serene day out at the newly named Jim Raynor Field in Clinton on Friday, with few clouds, plenty of sunshine and the radiant spirit of the community.

Like a backyard barbecue, the smell of grilled food permeated the air as friends, family and fans of Clinton athletics gathered together to witness the dedication ceremony of local legend, Jimmy Raynor, the former pro pitcher who let go of the big league dream to cultivate the love of baseball for the Dark Horses. Plenty of folks were in attendance for this affair and stories from the past spread like wildfire with everyone relishing their times spent at Clinton High.

Raynor stood at the entrance and was taking it all in, having been absent from the limelight for quite some time, relishing the changes that have been made. He pointed out the small changes to the field a layman wouldn’t have known or could tell, but his pinpoint observations kept people engaged, speaking on his time at the field. Spell alluded to his impeccable memory in the opening speech, regarding his recollection of players and games that are more than 30 years old now.

All the guest speakers attested that his influence in the classroom and as coach brought them to where they are today as they have given back to the institution as servants of the community.

It was an uplifting affair Friday afternoon and the current Dark Horse team was warming up while everyone was talking and catching up on times past, readying themselves to take on the St. Pauls Bulldogs on the diamond. As the meet and greet portion wound down, athletic director Brad Spell started prepping for the slew of speeches that were slated for the event. There was nothing but praise for the former coach’s demeanor, calm, cool and soft spoken. Though he wasn’t the loudest speaker, his words were taken with conviction as he spoke on the joys he had as the coach for the Dark Horses.

With that charm and charisma, he grabbed the mic and didn’t miss a beat, starting off with a joke regarding his hair.

“Yeah, my hair is all gray now, but at least it hasn’t turned loose yet.”

He lauded the dedication and called it an incredible honor that he didn’t expect. Raynor spoke about his late wife, Sandra, and showered her with praise for her diligence and support of him during their marriage. As his speech came to a close, he kept it brief as his throat closed up, holding back the tears of joy for the honor that he didn’t see coming. He thanked the crowd and everyone who put effort into making this possible.

The Dark Horses would go on to win that game against the St. Pauls Bulldogs with Raynor in attendance, giving him a taste of Clinton victory once again, 9-3.