Sixth-graders make case for Tommy Fitzgerald baseball field

Two Pima Butte Elementary School students on a mission to name a Pacana Park baseball field after a 12-year-old who died in August made their pitch to the city council Tuesday night.

Kacie Swaffield, 11, and Sydney McDill, 11, presented a petition signed by 312 community members in support of naming a field after Tommy Fitzgerald. 

Tommy, who was known for his love of baseball, died from a staph infection after receiving a knee wound while playing the sport.

“If you think about it, wouldn’t it be amazing to drive past the Tommy Fitzgerald baseball field every day?” Kacie told council members during a call to the public. “I think his family would love that and his friends would appreciate that.”

Kacie said Tommy spent six years of his life playing baseball at the park. Sydney also spoke before the council, urging the city to name a field in Tommy’s honor. 

“We got them to sign,” Sydney said. “We did our part. And we’re asking you right now if you can please help Tommy’s memory live on and do yours.” 

In accordance to the state’s open meeting law, council members cannot discuss issues brought up during call to the public. Mayor Christian Price, however, did thank the two girls. 

“We will take those signatures and we will do our part as a council to further investigate and see what we can get done,” Price said. 

The city does not have a policy for naming individual fields within parks. At a marketing and communications subcommittee meeting in August, staff members said they were concerned about others coming forward with similar requests for naming fields. 

Kacie and Sydney have collected signatures during sporting events at Pacana Park. A Facebook page was also set up that provided information on how people could submit electronic signatures. The two Pima Butte sixth-graders described their efforts during a call to the public at a school board meeting in September.