'This Field Is Yours': LI Coach Honored With Baseball Field Renaming

SAYVILLE, NY — A beloved Long Island high school baseball coach has been eternally honored with a field renaming.

Sayville High School's longtime coach and Vietnam War veteran, Barry Fitzpatrick, 78, was honored with an emotional field renaming dedication on May 1.

The dedication took place before the Sayville Golden Flashes' game against Mount Sinai as part of their annual Salute Our Troops Day. More than 100 Sayville baseball alumni and 50 veterans were in attendance.

In a pregame ceremony, Fitzpatrick was brought onto the field by his wife, Barbara, through a tunnel of cheering Sayville junior varsity baseball and softball players. The Fitzpatricks made their way to the pitcher’s mound, where they were surrounded by friends, family and Sayville alumni. The Sayville Golden Flashes, in jerseys adorned with stars and stripes, stood on the third-base line, while United States military veterans lined the first-base line.

"God bless everyone," said Barry Fitzpatrick as he waved and made his way onto the field.

A series of speakers took the podium, including Sayville Director of Physical Education, Health, and Interscholastic Athletics Dr. Ryan Cox; Barbara Fitzpatrick; and Town of Islip Councilman John M. Lorenzo, who presented Coach Fitzpatrick with a citation from the town. Each spoke about Coach Fitzpatrick’s legacy and the lasting impact he has had on Sayville.

Following the speeches, a tarp in the outfield was dropped to reveal a new scoreboard sign that read, "Welcome to Barry Fitzpatrick Field at The Swamp." The scoreboard sign and a bronze plaque installed on the dugout were both donated by the Sayville Athletic Foundation and the Sayville Baseball Booster Club.

"There is nobody more synonymous with Sayville baseball than Barry Fitzpatrick," said Dr. Ryan Cox. "On a personal note, I want to say, coach, you are one of the finest people I have ever met. I love you, coach. This field is yours."

After the ceremony, Fitzpatrick—Sayville’s winningest baseball coach—finally did the one thing he wanted to do all day: He threw out the first pitch.

He coached Sayville baseball for more than 45 years, serving as varsity head coach from 1978 to 1999 and remaining on staff as an assistant for many years after. He totaled 316 victories and five league championships (1979, 1983, 1986, 1992, 1999) during his career with the Golden Flashes.

As part of Salute Our Troops Day, more than 50 veterans were recognized throughout the game. Four veterans, alongside Coach Fitzpatrick, threw out ceremonial first pitches, and the Golden Flashes wore special stars-and-stripes jerseys. Sayville’s coaches also wore matching jerseys, each bearing the name "Fitzpatrick." In between innings, the public address announcer read aloud the names of attending veterans to honor their service.

The Sayville crowd also gave Mount Sinai shortstop Bennie Franquiz a standing ovation in the top of the first inning for his commitment to West Point.