Beloved baseball coach is honored

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - Friends and family got the ball rolling Sunday to create a scholarship in the name of beloved sports figure in the town of Wilbraham.

It was the first annual "Hike for Mike", honoring longtime youth baseball coach Mike Farrell. He died suddenly last August at the age of 52.

Those closest to Mike Farrell told 22News he was a truly extraordinary person.

“He's probably one of the most generous people I've every met. He was just a great role model, he was Mr. Baseball in Wilbraham, but he was just our dad,” said Mike Farrell’s daughter Diana Farrell.

“He was a very caring person throughout his life. His business, the ventures, he was always there helping people,” said friend John O’Hear.

This first annual "Hike for Mike" at Post Office Park raised money to start a baseball scholarship at Minnechaug Regional High School.

The money from these events will also maintain a new baseball field at Wilbraham's Spec Pond. The field to be named in memory of Mike Farrell.