Nelson Twp. – The Pixley Park Committee graciously accepted a $3000 donation from Suzanne Wensel for bleachers at the ball fields in Pixley Park. The money donated by Mrs. Suzanne Wensel was in memory of her late husband Byron. Mrs. Wensel stated that family, friends, and former players donated to the memorial fund she had set up at the bank back in 2002 when the land was first donated to the township. She created the fund to honor the memory of Nelson’s first Hot Stove baseball coach, her late husband, Bryon.
She said her husband, Byron had always dreamed of having a Nelson Hot Stove Baseball Team. He was passionate about baseball and his community, so at 17 years old he started a Hot Stove Baseball Team in Nelson. The township didn’t have a field until Mr. Ross Feller created a make-shift field on his land for them to use. The field that he created sat in front of where the township garage and Pixley Park are now situated. The team played a few years in Nelson but due to lack of a quality field they united with the Garrettsville’s Hot Stove team and relocated to the village. When the team relocated Mr. Wensel continued his commitment to baseball by coaching in Garrettsville.
The bleachers for the ball fields will be constructed in the spring with a memorial plaque installed commemorating Mr. Wensel.
The park committee wishes to thank the Wensel Family for their donation. Donations for the park can be made anytime at Middlefield Bank where they have an established Pixley Park account.
