Salem Little League honors beloved coach with field dedication
A Little League field in Salem now carries the name of a beloved coach and father who died in a plane crash near Washington, D.C., last year.
Salem Little League officially dedicated “Crafton Field” over the weekend in honor of Casey Crafton, a longtime coach remembered for mentoring children both on and off the baseball diamond.
Salem Little League president Jessica Fletcher said Crafton’s impact went far beyond the game.
“He wanted to teach them confidence and kindness and being good kids, which nowadays is so important,” Fletcher said.
Crafton was among the 60 passengers killed when a military helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 collided outside Washington, D.C., in January last year. His death deeply affected the Salem community, where he spent years coaching local children.
Fletcher said the field dedication gave the community a chance to come together while honoring Crafton’s legacy.
“It was a horrible tragedy losing Casey, but we were able to pull a little bit of joy out of it by naming the field after him,” Fletcher said.
Dozens of people attended the ceremony, which included a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial first pitch.
“You could just feel everybody really coming together. There were videos, and the kids were right up in front,” Fletcher said.
The new sign at Crafton Field also includes a QR code that links to a MemoryGram detailing Crafton’s life story.
One moment from the ceremony that especially stood out to Fletcher was a photo of Crafton’s son, Easton, sitting on top of the dugout overlooking the field.
“He just sat there, and he just overlooked the field, and it was just so beautiful. It’s the most perfect moment,” Fletcher said.
The league is also preparing for another upgrade. Musco Lighting donated $150,000 in new field lights after learning about the dedication.
“It’s great to be able to have these lights so more people can play the game and have fun, just the way he would want it,” Salem resident Elizabeth Muscarelli said.
League officials said the permitting process for the lights is underway, with hopes they will be installed before next season.
Fletcher said she hopes everyone who visits the field will remember the positivity Crafton brought to Salem.
“When people walk up here and say, ‘ Do you know who Casey Crafton is? ‘ all the wonderful memories and all the positive attitudes he brought to the community will be reflected,” Fletcher said.
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