Friends, family and former players of a late Freeport Area Youth Baseball coach plan to gather for a special event Sunday in Freeport.
The inaugural Greg Wells Memorial Fall Festival is set for the baseball fields in Freeport Community Park.
Wells, a Harrison native and Buffalo Township resident, was a baseball and youth soccer coach, husband, and father of two boys, Beau and Brody.
Wells, 44, was overseeing a soccer practice Aug. 17 when he had a cardiac arrest.
“He was just everything I ever wanted,” said his wife, Kristin Wells. “He had a heart of gold, wore his heart on his sleeve. I knew he was going to be a good dad. He was just a good guy.”
Kristin Wells said it was determined that he went into ventricular fibrillation, meaning his heart beat irregularly and did not adequately pump blood.
The 1995 Highlands High School graduate was unresponsive for about 20 minutes, causing major brain damage. Wells died Sept. 3 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The incident sparked a movement by the family, specifically Kristin’s sister, Kim Haugh, to have automated external defibrillators placed at sports fields. Strong Hearts Strong Players was formed to accomplish that goal in Greg’s memory.
Wells said she believes, if one was available at the field in August, her husband might still be alive.
“If there was an AED there, this would have been a completely different story,” she said.
The festival is being organized by friends and fellow youth baseball officials, such as Vice President Derek Gourley.
Gourley said he, like Wells, grew up in Harrison. They had become good friends the past six years.
“As an organization, he’s irreplaceable as a coach and mentor to the local youth,” Gourley said. “As far as a friend, there’s no one like him, especially his smile.”
Gourley said he expects about 500 people to participate in the festival.
“It’s very humbling and overwhelming, the support that the community and people who knew Greg from Harrison have reached out,” he said. “It’s been incredible. I know deep down, it’s helping the family show that he meant something to a lot of people.
“(Greg’s) willingness to always put every kid first and make sure they’re learning the game and still having fun. … We just really wanted to do something nice for his family and show them how much the baseball community and Freeport in general cared for him.”
Activities include whiffle ball games, a dunk tank, hay rides, face painting, food vendors, pumpkin painting, 50/50 and basket raffles, and games such as “pie a coach in the face.”
Freeport Area High School varsity baseball players are expected to play in the whiffle ball games and serve as designated pitchers.
Admission is free, and all proceeds benefit the Wells family.
Kristin Wells said many people have reached out to the family and continue to check in on them. All the support and the upcoming festival have rendered her nearly speechless, she said.
“There are not even words for enough thanks that I could give to anybody,” she said. “This entire community was here from Day One, and they will continue to be here for us. (Greg’s) favorite sport was baseball. He would be honored, and we’re honored to remember him in the sport that he loved.”
Those who cannot make the event but want to support the cause can make monetary donations online at one.bidpal.net/wellsaed/welcome.
