Smithville honors late Nate Butcher with field naming
Before his untimely passing in January of this year, Nate Butcher spent countless hours working on the baseball fields at Smithville Park, where he also served as Smithville Youth Baseball commissioner.
The Smithville community came together to memorialize the late Nate Butcher in the ideal way on May 26. They named a baseball field after him.
Not just any field, but the marquee field No. 1 at Smithville Park — the field where Butcher served as Smithville Youth Baseball commissioner, coached countless players over the past 15 years, dragged the infield and cut the grass, donated his own money, and even played slowpitch softball in the early 2000s.
More than 100 residents from Smithville and neighboring cities and towns came together to see Nate Butcher Memorial Field dedicated prior to a youth baseball game.
Smithville Mayor Tom Poulson worked with Butcher, who passed away Jan. 8, on the parks board for many years and said it was an easy decision to name the field after him.
“One of the things that was really apparent with Nate was his passion for baseball and also for the parks,” Poulson told the crowd that gathered to honor Butcher. “He was at every park meeting early, and he always came with ideas and a vision for what we needed to do within the park.
“Many of the improvements that you see here are a result of his leadership, whether it’s a new field or the improvements on this field.”
Butcher didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. He was constantly doing things to help youth baseball.
“Nate spent endless hours on this field and down here in this park to make sure it was always ready for games,” Poulson told the crowd, which included Nate’s widow, Vanessa, and sons Zach and Bryce. “Even though Nate’s time here was very short, the impact he’s had upon the park and this community will last for generations.”
Smithville seniors Luke Meech, AJ Tuel and Trey Lowe, who were all coached by Butcher, got the ball rolling to name the field after Butcher.
“I was driving by the park one day, and I thought, ‘We should name the field after Nate,’” Meech said. “I had a senior leadership class taught by Mrs. (Erin) Baker in which we were told to come up with a student-led project. I brought it up, and everyone said it would be a good idea. We all had Nate as a baseball coach, and he made a great impact in our lives.”
Meech, Tuel and Lowe raised money to purchase a sign and plaque and wrote a letter to the city council asking for permission to name the field after Butcher.
“We were all totally supportive of the idea because of Nate’s impact on the parks,” Poulson said. “Nate was not only clearly caring about teaching the game of baseball, but he truly cared about the youth and our parks.”
Vanessa Butcher called it “a perfect day.”
“This is so amazing to see the outpouring of love for Nate and the impact that he’s had on this whole community, especially the youth,” Vanessa Butcher said. “There are so many boys that he has coached or followed throughout their time in Smithville baseball, and he truly cared for them.
“Kids just loved him. They loved his way he went about things, and they loved some of his crazy behavior and shenanigans. I’m so thankful for Mrs. Baker and for the leadership group that put this together. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day and more perfect way to memorialize Nate.”
The field dedication was originally scheduled for May 23 but had to be moved after Smithville upset top-seeded Norwayne 5-4 to reach a district semifinal game that day.
Bryce Butcher led the Smithies past the Bobcats with outstanding pitching and hitting. Jacob Hatfield, a player Nate coached, smacked the game-winning, two-run hit in the top of the seventh.
“It’s amazing to see how many people my dad really impacted and just see how many people really care,” Bryce Butcher said. “I think he’d be really proud and just amazed by how many people’s lives he changed and helped in the baseball community.”
In addition to Smithville residents, many of Bryce Butcher’s teammates and coaches from the Golden Gloves travel baseball program were in attendance.
Bryce Butcher had a 3-5 record with a 3.26 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 49 1-3 innings while batting .323 for Smithville. The Smithies finished with an 11-11 record after falling to Gilmour in the district semis.
“It was definitely different not hearing the only voice I really listened to, but I felt like I really had to push through in order to play for him,” Bryce Butcher said. “It really comforted me to do well on the baseball field.”
Zach Butcher, a 2021 SHS graduate, threw out the first pitch to Bryce. His comment after was short and sweet: “That’s a nice tribute. Thanks to everyone for coming.”
Phil Olsen coached Bryce Butcher in football and baseball this year. He knew Nate for about as long as anyone in attendance, dating back to when they were slowpitch softball teammates.
“It’s very rare to name something after a person in Smithville,” Olsen said. “This speaks to the impact that Nate had. I don’t think he would want all this attention, but it’s meaningful for the community. It’s meaningful for the boys and mostly Vanessa.
“Nate was the epitome of a guy who just did all the work and didn’t want any credit. This means a lot to all of us. I played softball with Nate, coached his boys, and this is awesome to see.”
Asked what Nate might have said about the field being named after him, Vanessa Butcher said, “He’d have been humbled. He also would have had something funny to say for sure. He was a funny guy, and I never knew what was coming next.”
Rain showers were originally forecast for the night of the rescheduled field dedication. Vanessa Butcher was nervous about the forecast the day before and well into the afternoon of the ceremony.
Maybe that was Nate’s way from above of messing with those who planned to attend. Their nerves about the weather went away when the skies cleared shortly before the 6 p.m. ceremony and were replaced by fond memories, smiles and hugs.
The ceremony for Nate Butcher Memorial Field was the perfect way to honor his legacy and make sure his many contributions aren’t forgotten.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.