The Willowbrook Royals of the SESBL took time to honour one of the most dedicated members of the Royals family ahead of their regular season game against the Russell Bulls this past Friday, June 12.
The defending SESBL champions retired the number seven jersey of former player, coach and SESBL team founder the late John Krasowski after a heartwarming speech delivered by current Royal player Jeremy Hrebenik on just how important Krasowski was to not only him, but the baseball team and entire community of Willowbrook. “For myself, John was my coach and friend from the age of about four or five when Chris (Krasowski) and I started playing ball together. From that point he coached us for well over 20 years,” Hrebenik said in his speech, continuing, “I don’t think I had butted heads with any coach quite as much as I did with John but looking back now I’m pretty sure that all he was trying to do was get the best out of every one of us.
“With that we grew to have the utmost respect for John and I was proud to call him a coach, a teammate and most importantly a friend.”
Hrebenik went on to say that John Krasowski’s impact on Willowbrook wasn’t just done through coaching baseball. John was also key in getting the Willowbrook Royals re-established after the team folded for a few seasons and even donned the chest protector late last season when the team was in need of an umpire for an SESBL game.
According to Hrebenik, Krasowski was also the biggest Royal fan that Willowbrook ever had. “John’s generosity and time were remarkable. Winning the league title last year in front of all of our loyal fans will remain a memory for all of us but among the most loyal was Johnny,” Hrebenik told the near 100 fans in attendance at the Willowbrook baseball field, now known as John Krasowski Memorial Field. “I heard someone say just the other day that after Ambrose hit the walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh he wasn’t sure who was jumping up higher in their seats, my dad or John.
“He was one of the first ones down on the field to offer a congratulatory handshake and he waited in line for his turn to drink out of the league trophy.”
Hrebenik ended his touching speech by saying: ‘John’s dedication and commitment to the community, the Royals and his family is unmatched by almost anyone.
“The memories John created for us through coaching baseball, curling and life in general will never be forgotten.”
Following Hrebenik’s heartwarming speech the Willowbrook Royals presented John’s wife Bev Krasowski and sons Chris and Kyle Krasowski with the now retired number seven Royals jersey with ‘Krasowski’ emblazoned on the back.
In addition, the Royals also came forward with a sign dedicating the Willowbrook baseball field to the memory of John, renaming the field the John Krasowski Memorial Field; something that the Krasowski family were not expecting. “That was a surprise. I teared up a little bit when I heard that and saw the sign,” Kyle Krasowski told Yorkton This Week in Friday evening. “We knew that they were retiring the jersey because my sister saw it on Facebook.
“She told us that Jeremy had messaged her saying they were thinking of doing this jersey presentation for Dad because of what he meant to the community and team, but we didn’t know they were going to name the field after him.”
Kyle’s brother Chris also said that the Royals dedicating the field to their Dad was completely unexpected; unexpected, but appreciated. “Naming the field in his honour is very nice. There are a lot of people that put some work and effort into getting the field here and it’s very touching that they would honour him by dedicating the field to his name,” mentioned Chris Krasowski, continuing, “We really appreciate it. There are a lot of people that could be honoured like that but we’re happy that it was him and his memory will live on with this ball diamond and we thank the Royals for that.”
