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North Tama plants tree in memory of ‘biggest fan’ Nick Riley

North Tama students and Redhawk youth baseball players pictured alongside the tree planted by the group last Thursday at the North Tama Youth Diamond in Traer in honor of the late Nick Riley. Riley’s son Karver is pictured sixth from left in the No. 32 jersey, his daughter Karrington is pictured back row far right (obscured), and Nick’s wife Sami is pictured in the back row on the far left. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA NELSON
Karver (No. 32), Sami, and Karrington Riley pictured during the tree planting ceremony. PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHELLE COCHRAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHELLE COCHRAN

TRAER – Last Thursday, May 11, the North Tama Community School District and P.T.O. planted a tree at the Youth Diamond in memory of Redhawk baseball’s ‘biggest fan,’ Nick Riley.

Riley – a devoted community servant who served on the Traer Fire Department – passed away from pancreatic cancer on February 17 of this year. His children, Karver and Karrington Riley attend North Tama schools with Karver playing youth baseball for the Redhawks.

Karver’s fifth grade class and baseball team helped plant the tree Thursday evening in “a spot that will overlook our Redhawks at every home game,” according to a Facebook post by the North Tama P.T.O.

Following the tree planting, the Redhawk White team played a home game with Nick’s tree standing sentry nearby.