Thousands flock to Freeport for fall festival honoring the late Greg Wells

Organizers had expected about 500 residents to participate in the inaugural Greg Wells Memorial Fall Festival on Sunday at Freeport Community Park. That estimate turned out to be a bit low, as more than 2,000 people showed up to honor the late Freeport youth baseball and soccer coach.

A Harrison native and Buffalo Township resident, Wells, 44, died after suffering a cardiac arrest while at a Freeport youth soccer practice Aug. 17. He was a husband and a father of two boys, Beau and Brody.

Derek Gourley of Buffalo Township, one of the event organizers and vice president of Freeport Youth Baseball, was surprised the attendance was about four times what he expected.

“It’s about showing the family how much Greg meant to this community,” he said. “People were happy to come out and do something for his family.”

Bats were swinging, and legs were kicking for an afternoon of Wiffle Ball games and a blowup sports complex for kicking and throwing.

A sea of blue Freeport Yellowjacket T-shirts and jerseys filled the park’s baseball fields for a flurry of activities, amusement games, raffles, hayrides, a performance by the Sunset Drive band and face painting.

Baseball and soccer players took pleasure in throwing balls at a dunk tank target to dunk a lineup of Freeport Area coaches. They also bought tickets to throw pies at a host of Freeport youth coaches.

Shawn Cooper, a Freeport youth baseball coach, gladly got a pie thrown in his face as part of the activities. He was more than happy to honor Wells, his longtime friend and fellow coach. Cooper was among eight coaches hit with pies by their players.

“I’m trying to do everything Greg did for the community,” he said.

Another Freeport coach, Bill Bricker of Buffalo Township, consented to a bit of discomfort to honor Wells by manning the dunk tank where 20 or more kids crowded at one time.

“Seeing the kids have a really good time is what Greg would have wanted,” Bricker said.

And they did.

More than 100 kids played Wiffle Ball on three fields at once in the afternoon, Gourley said.

“I love kicking the ball. It’s so much fun” said Cameron Patterson, 11, of Freeport as he kicked a soccer ball at a blowup game testing accuracy. Patterson is a goalie for a team in the Freeport Area Soccer Association.

Wells’ family was on hand for the event and were impressed by the activities and the number of people who showed up for the event.

“I’m absolutely humbled and honored,” said Wells’ widow, Kristen. “My husband would have been honored by this. The event was the best — the people and the turnout.”

Proceeds from the event benefited the Wells Family. Those who could not make the event but would like to support the cause can make monetary donations online at one.bidpal.net/wellsaed/welcome.