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Pony Baseball to honor former player at memorial service Saturday

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Ramona Pony Baseball will hold a memorial service Saturday evening to celebrate the life of Nate Ford, a former Pony baseball player who died in a car accident Aug. 21 in Arizona. He was 16 years old.

The service, open to the community, will be conducted from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Ramona Pony Baseball Fields off Earlham Street in Ramona Community Park.

“Please wear red, white and blue, or your favorite sports jersey,” says Pony Baseball’s announcement of the service.

Nate, the son of Doug and Jennifer Ford, played Pony Baseball from Shetland to Bronco divisions before his family relocated to Maricopa, Ariz., in 2011.

Doug Ford served as president of Pony baseball for about three years and many who coached Nate and volunteered with his father are still involved in the Ramona Pony organization, said Katrina Schreiber, Pony Baseball board president.

Organizers of the memorial service are expecting a large crowd, and Pony Baseball has purchased baseballs with Nate’s picture on them that will be given away to friends and family, said Chad Gilliland, a Pony board member.

The Ford family was involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ramona, which will be taking part in the service on Saturday, said Schreiber.

According to the Arizona Republic, Nate died Aug. 21 when his car collided with a cattle truck on State Route 347 in Arizona.

After moving to Arizona, Nate continued to play baseball, said Schreiber, and he played football for Maricopa High School.

A memorial service was held in Maricopa and a

Facebook page was set up to honor him at “Always Remember Him...Nate Ford.”

In lieu of flowers, Pony Baseball asks that donations be made to: “The Nathan Ford Memorial Fund” at Wells Fargo Bank, Account No. 6842754688.

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