Scholarship fund gets kids on the field

Since its inception in 2010, which grew from a terrible tragedy for a Sisters family in 2009, the Ian Ferguson Memorial Scholarship Fund has helped more than 75 athletes play baseball in Sisters.

Approximately 125 girls and boys play Little League ball in Sisters, and the Ian Ferguson Memorial Scholarship Fund has been able to scholarship nearly 10 percent of those players every year.

Ian "Fergie" Ferguson, a standout athlete for the Sisters Outlaws (1997) died in a 2009 car accident in Fresno, California. Many of Ian's co-workers asked the family how they could honor his memory. Ian loved baseball and Little League, and a scholarship fund was started in his name in 2010. This special fund is to be held for the exclusive purpose of providing league membership dues or equipment to children in need that would otherwise be unable to play Little League baseball for financial reasons.

Over the past five years, Sisters Little League has gifted over $5,900 in scholarships to Sisters Country youth; including both full and partial registration fees and equipment for athletes in need.

"It's hard to think of someone who better represented the 'ideal' character of not only our town of Sisters, but also youth sports," said Mary (Ferguson) Dethlefs, Ian's sister. "He was fun-loving, loyal, hard-working, fair and honest; these are the qualities we hope to help encourage by helping kids from this community participate in such a great organization."

"We have been so honored to manage this scholarship fund for the last five years for the children of Sisters," said Jamie Vohs, secretary/treasurer for Sisters Little League. "Ian was a special young man who was dedicated to Sisters youth and his passion for baseball was infectious. This is a great way to honor his memory."

The 2015 Little League season kicked off on Saturday, April 18 with opening ceremonies on the Little League south field (directly behind Sisters Community Church). Sisters Little League invites Sisters Country residents to come out and support our young athletes at a game. Games are held throughout the week for different age groups; a complete schedule of games can be found at http://www.SistersLittleLeague.org.

For more information on Sisters Little League or the Ian Ferguson Memorial Scholarship Fund, visit http://www.SistersLittleLeague.org or contact Jamie Vohs at 541-360-731-5702. Donations to the Ian Ferguson Scholarship Fund are accepted throughout the year and can be mailed to Sisters Little League, P.O. Box 951, Sisters, OR, 97759. Depending on the age of the participant, $75-$125 provides a full scholarship for one athlete.