Beech Creek Borough Pays Tribute with Softball Field Dedication In Memory of Beloved Athlete Nicole McGhee

The new sign for the Nicole McGhee Field in Beech Creek

Lisa Heaton, member of the Beech Creek Borough Authority (Center), before presenting Deb McGhee (third from left) with flowers at the field dedication ceremony while Chipp McCann officiates

The McGhee family after Deb McGhee (Left) threw the first pitch to her granddaughter Brielle McGhee (standing next to her) at the Nicole McGhee Field. Pictured here with Nicole’s parents Deb and Pat McGhee, are her brother Brian and his wife, Bobby McGhee, Nicole’s brother Jared McGhee, her nieces Blake and Lucy McGhee, and her nephew Brickson McGhee.

The first teams to play at McGhee Field, Sarr’s Tree Service vs. Ebervale Corrosion

By Emily Wright

BEECH CREEK – The public was invited to attend a softball field dedication event in memory of Nicole McGhee on Thursday evening. The former Beech Creek Borough Softball field located at 87 Vesper Street in Beech Creek, is now known as the Nicole McGhee Field.

The ceremony preceded the Clinton Little League Major Division softball game between Sarr’s Tree Service and Ebervale Corrosion, and rain didn’t stop attendees from coming out to support the field dedication ceremony and the game following it.

Several of Nicole’s family members were in attendance, including her mother, Deb McGhee, who threw the first pitch of the game in memory of her daughter. Chipp McCann, Vice President of Clinton Little League, and Beech Creek Borough official Lisa Heaton officiated the ceremony.

McCann came up with the idea to dedicate the field to Nicole McGhee and presented it to the Beech Creek Borough officials, who unanimously voted in favor of the idea.

Nicole was a Beech Creek native known by her classmates and teammates as not only a dedicated softball player in the area but also an exceptionally talented athlete, having also excelled on her basketball and soccer teams. She was a 7th-grade high-honor roll student at Central Mountain Middle School (West) when she tragically lost her life in 2002 at the age of 12.

Nicole is survived by her parents, Deb and Pat McGhee; her brother Brian and his wife Bobby; her brother Jared McGhee; her nieces Blake and Lucy McGhee; and her nephew Brickson McGhee, who were all in attendance at the field dedication ceremony. Seemingly without effort, Deb McGhee threw the game’s first pitch to her granddaughter, Brielle McGhee, who plays for Saar’s Tree Service.