BASEBALL TEAM HONORS FALLEN FRIEND BENCH IS TRIBUTE TO TYLER PATCHETT.Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer MOORPARK - ``Drafted by the Dodgers. Traded to the Angels.'' The words gave strength to hundreds of mourners at Tyler Patchett's funeral services funeral service n → misa de cuerpo presente funeral service n → service m funèbre funeral service funeral n at Sonrise Christian Fellowship nearly a year ago. On Friday, friends and family members paid tribute at Poindexter Park to the baseball-loving 10-year-old. The boy's name, along with Pastor David Wilkinson's message, are inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. on the plaque plaque (plak) 1. any patch or flat area. 2. a superficial, solid, elevated skin lesion. attachment plaques of a bench overlooking o·ver·look tr.v. o·ver·looked, o·ver·look·ing, o·ver·looks 1. a. To look over or at from a higher place. b. the baseball field. ``That's the park where he played,'' said Sheila Patchett, the boy's mother. ``The park where he took his Little League pictures.'' Tyler was killed June 16 in a head-on boat crash at Lake Havasu along with his father, Steven Patchett. The boy's older brother, Stephan, 19, was seriously injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in the crash. The Moorpark College Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134 acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. student has had several reconstructive re·con·struc·tive adj. 1. Relating to or characterized by reconstruction. 2. Serving to rebuild, restore, or correct the appearance and function of defective, damaged, or misshaped body structures or parts: facial surgeries since the accident. ``It's been pure hell. I scream and cry almost every night,'' said Sheila Patchett. Sheila Patchett was at a nearby resort with daughter Kalen, 13, when the crash occurred. Despite the parents' divorce, the family had grown especially close in the months leading up to the tragedy. Baseball brought the family together. Sheila and Steve Patchett often planned family outings during Tyler's games. Tyler's Little League teammates attended the father-and-son service last July dressed in their Dodgers uniforms. Wilkinson, the family's pastor, called the park bench tribute appropriate. ``It was their own way of saying goodbye to him,'' he said. ``The memorial is a small token of how much he meant to so many people.'' Members of the Moorpark Little League raised the money to pay for the bench, which totaled about $900. Tyler played baseball with the Dodgers during the 2004 season. ``His memory will live on,'' said June Dubreuil, former Moorpark Little League president. ``Hopefully, the kids understand that we try to take care of each other through good times and bad times. You win some. You lose some. It's all part of life. ``The bench is about making memories and keeping families alive.'' Authorities have said the driver of the boat that struck the Patchett's had been driving under the influence of alcohol. He faces vehicular manslaughter vehicular manslaughter n. the crime of causing the death of a human being due to illegal driving of an automobile, including gross negligence, drunk driving, reckless driving, or speeding. and other charges related to the crash. His trial is scheduled for Aug. 2. Angie Valencia-Martinez, (805) 583-7604 angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) Pastor Dave Wilkinson, right, of the Bridge Community Church in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , talks about Tyler Patchett at Poindexter Park in Moorpark, above. Far right, a member of Tyler's team picks up a ball from the bench dedicated in memory of the young player, killed last summer in a boating crash. At right, Sheila Patchett, Tyler's mother, is comforted by friends after the bench dedication. Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News |
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