Little League scholarship a fitting memorial

A scholarship fund for Sisters Little Leaguers has been established in memory of Ian Ferguson, a 1997 Sisters High School graduate. Ian was killed in 2009 in an auto accident while driving from Bakersfield, California, where he worked as a project coordinator, to a family reunion in Sacramento.

Shortly after his death Ian's co-workers contacted the Ferguson family wanting to know what they could do to remember him. After giving it some thought, the family decided that a donation to the Sisters Little League would be the best way to honor Ian's memory.

Ian's co-workers took up a collection to establish the fund, and the Ferguson family was able to present to the Sisters Little League a check for over $3,500. An additional $500 donation was made by a Sisters resident who wished to remain anonymous.

Ian loved baseball. From a young age he was an outstanding baseball player. At nine years old he was drafted to a major level in Little League and played on All-Star teams all the way through the major, junior and senior Little League levels. He was a standout baseball player at Sisters High School and was named Most Valuable Player in his senior year.

He played club baseball while attending Central Oregon Community College in Bend, playing center field and batting cleanup. The COCC Bobcats played their home games at Vince Genna Stadium and Ian left his share of home-run balls on the roof of the old Safeway store behind the left field wall.

Ian also had the opportunity to coach junior varsity baseball at Sisters High School for one year and also coached the Sisters Little League Junior All Stars to a second-place finish in the district all star tournament. Ian was living with his brother, Scot Ferguson, at the time.

"I'll never forget the satisfaction he got out of that year of coaching," said Scot. "His work schedule changed which unfortunately made him unable to coach the next year. I'm sure he regretted the decision and I was impressed that he had such a hard time deciding whether to make more money or coach baseball. His dream was to become a teacher and coach sports at the high school level."

Ian graduated from the University of Oregon and earned his master's degree in education.

Money from the scholarship fund will help pay for fees and equipment so that any child who wants to play Little League in Sisters will be able to.

"At first we didn't have any intentions beyond the initial donation, but the Little League board took the idea one step further and established a perpetual scholarship fund in Ian's memory," said John Ferguson, Ian's father.

The family's hope is that the Ian Ferguson Memorial Little League Scholarship fund will help keep Ian's memory alive in the Sisters community and help keep the sport Ian loved alive and healthy.

"It is the goal of our family to make sure this fund remains alive and healthy too," said Scot Ferguson. "We and the Sisters Little League would appreciate your help."

Contributions to the Ian Ferguson Memorial Little League Scholarship fund can be made through the Sisters Little League, P.O. Box 951, Sisters, OR 97759.