FAIRFIELD – Jefferson County Little League’s collection of baseball diamonds in Fairfield has been named in honor of long-time coach Rich Stokes.

Friday, June 16 marks the end of the season for the Majors and Minors Little League teams, and that is when the fields will be officially renamed the Rich Stokes Little League Complex. Stokes has been coaching since 1975, and plans to coach at least two more years to get to an even 50 years. During his storied career, Stokes has won more than 300 games, and has a basement full of trophies and medals. One of his most prized possessions is his wall of 104 photographs showing the Little League baseball and youth basketball teams he’s coached over those five decades.

The ceremony on Friday will begin at 6:45 p.m. as part of Jefferson County Little League’s end-of-year awards ceremony. Those who either coached with or against Stokes are invited to say a few words, and those who played under him will be given a chance to speak as well. The evening will feature remarks from Ron Hunerdosse, Steve Juskevicz, Shane Kramer, Tommy Brower, Aaron Countryman, and the man of the hour, Rich Stokes.

Stokes said he feels very honored that Jefferson County Little League is naming the complex after him, though he admitted that it felt a bit odd.

“The reason it’s odd is that I’m getting honored for doing something that I like to do,” he said. “I just like making kids feel better about themselves.”

Stokes said he loves to trumpet the successes of his players. In fact, he submitted articles about two outstanding Fairfield players to Sports Illustrated, and the magazine printed both of them. Stokes said he always felt a sense of responsibility for a player’s development.

“My theory is that, if a kid is not doing it right, it’s the coach’s fault and he has to make them better,” Stokes said.

Stokes grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey. He said that his own Little League coach was an inspiration to him, and is the reason he wants to “pay it forward” by investing his time and energy into Fairfield’s Little League program.

Stokes came to Fairfield to attend Parsons College, where he studied business and graduated in 1970. He was just about to return home to New Jersey when he got a call informing him that he had a job opportunity at Fairfield Aluminum Castings. Stokes decided to take the job, and worked at Fairfield Aluminum Castings for 44 years, becoming its longest tenured employee.

Stokes was one of the founding members of the Challenger League, a baseball league for children with special needs. He’s done that for 31 years, and has been the group’s designated pitcher. For 10 years, Stokes coached both Little League and the Challenger League, but now he just does the Challenger League.

“Those Challenger kids are going to be good people because they have special talents, and good things will happen to them,” Stokes said.