DaytonDailyNews.com

BELLBROOK — Despite the threat of rain and a chill that moved the ceremony inside, students, parents and friends gathered Saturday, April 26 to dedicate the new baseball and softball diamonds at Bellbrook Middle School.

Saying that Yenema V. "Burma" Fernandez has "helped make Bellbrook what it is today," Bellbrook Middle School Athletic Director Jeff Eckley announced that the softball diamond will "forever more will be known as Fernandez Field."

Fernandez was presented with a plaque, and a baseball and softball signed by the members of both teams, who stood behind her during the presentation.

In her remarks, Fernandez shared memories of her 51-year stay in the community.

"My daughter loved it because we were across the street from the library; my husband loved it because he joined the volunteer fire department," Fernandez said.

"The next thing I knew, one of our station wagons was made into an ambulance with all the whistles and sirens, and a stretcher in the back of it. Then shortly after that he saw an advertisement for an ambulance from Germany, a Volkswagen ambulance, and he ordered that. And that was used in the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek area."

"For 51 years, many things have happened in this community. I'm so thankful that I have been a part of a few of those things."

After thanking her friends for attending, Fernandez threw out the ceremonial first pitch, then joined in with the Friends of the Sweet Adeline's to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game."

Eckley said the field, with the help of Green Velvet Sod Farms, would get grass growing in the next couple of weeks, and "be ready to compete on those fields starting next year."

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