BUCYRUS — When he was 15, in 1954, Jack Hewitt found men’s fast-pitch softball, playing in a church league and an industrial league.

“Hitting one of those big balls is tough,” Hewitt said. “Most games, guys struck out 10 out of every 12 times. It was really difficult.”

Hewitt became one of the nation’s best fast-pitch pitchers and he played softball for decades.

In 1968, when Jane Hart started the Bucyrus High School fast-pitch program for girls, the first person she went to was Hewitt.

“Every year, (Hewitt) has a little bit to do here and a little bit to do there,” current Bucyrus coach Pudge Hargis said. “He knows more about softball than I do, twice as much.”

Saturday night, the community honored one of its own.

The BHS softball field was renamed “Jack Hewitt Field,” in honor of Hewitt, who graduated from BHS in 1957 and is involved with the Bucyrus program until this very day.

Bucyrus athletics director Rick Rawson said that the decision to rename the field in honor of Hewitt began at a meeting of the Bucyrus Hall of Fame committee back in November.

“One of the committee members brought up the idea,” Rawson said.

Rawson joked that the school board approved the idea in one night, something that doesn’t happen often.

“It didn’t take long for us to put this together,” Rawson added.

Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser came to the ceremony with a proclamation that May 18, 2019 is “Jack Hewitt Day” in Bucyrus.

“I hope that the current softball team can take a page from Jack and pay forward,” Reser said.

Reser told CCN that Hewitt is a legend.

“(Hewitt) had a special talent and a love,” Reser said. “When you have talent and a love and a desire to share it, that turns into someone like Jack Hewitt. He continues to give even to this day.

“It’s an honor to be able to honor him for what he has done for this city, this program and all these kids here,” Reser added. “I’m just happy to be part of it.”

Officially, Hewitt was the head coach of the Redmen for just one season, 1990. But that team went 27-2 and won the Division II state championship, beating Tallmadge, 2-1, in the state championship game.

Hewitt, however, was the man girls went to when they wanted to learn about pitching. Two other schools, Colonel Crawford (1995) and Crestline (2004) have won state titles since Hewitt began teaching pitching.

Hewitt was the head coach just one season because his job with the Ohio prison system just didn’t afford him time.

“It was cathartic for me to come to Bucyrus and be around these kids,” Hewitt said. “It kept my faith in people.”

Hargis said he has known Hewitt for more than 60 years.

“Jack has done everything to help every kid that wanted to pitch in Crawford County and all they had to do was ask,” Hargis said. “He worked diligently with everyone. And that is at no cost. He has never charged anyone anything. He loves the game of softball.”

Hargis added that no one is a better person than Hewitt.

“He’s just a good guy to have around,” Hargis said. “But the great thing about Jack, I can’t find anyone that has a bad thing to say about him. Everyone speaks well of Jack. He has enjoyed his work with everyone. He and his wife (Kay) are just good people. When you have good people and incorporate things with them, things will go well.”

Hewitt added that the 2019 season will be his final one.

“I stayed too long but the years kinda get away from you,” Hewitt said.