HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS
John Lipez cuts the ceremonial ribbon, marking the dedication of Taggart Park field in his name during a ceremony on Friday morning.
LOCK HAVEN — Youth baseball has been a staple for Clinton County for decades.
Many youngsters have spent their summers practicing on a variety of fields within the City of Lock Haven and beyond — in particular Taggart Park.
Recently, the city upgraded the field along Park Street to continue being a key part of many childhoods for years to come.
With the history of this park in mind, city council along with its staff decided to dedicate the field to a longtime supporter of youth sports — John Lipez.
“For the past several decades, if you ask people who is the voice of youth sports in our area, they will inevitably say ‘John Lipez,’” Mayor Joel Long said during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon. “His voice, photos and writing have covered our local teams in victory and defeat, whether on the t-ball field or on the university wrestling mat — John has been a part of nearly every sporting event in our area that people value.”
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS
Attendees of the Taggart Park field dedication enjoy hotdogs provided by The Old Corner Bar & Grille following the ceremony.
This includes many Little League games which took place at Taggart Park.
Lipez, who hadn’t known about the honor until arriving at the field to see many members of his family, stood with Long as city staff unveiled the sign bearing his name.
“John’s legacy is not just about celebrating the wins, but calling out the exceptions, even in defeat,” Long continued. “His reporting is personalized, highlighting those who gave it their all, whether they win or lose.”
“It’s giving it a try, putting in the effort, that John has always celebrated. That’s what makes him an exceptional voice for youth sports in our community,” Long continued.
He noted John’s decades of support with promoting youth sports with his coverage and the time he spent coaching Little League, junior league and legion baseball.
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS
John Lipez, left, and Lock Haven City Mayor Joel Long, right, are pictured after Long announced Taggart Park field would be named in Lipez’s honor during a ceremony on Friday morning.
Lipez, who prior the announcement provided a history of the field — including his time playing baseball at 13 — joked that this “brings it full circle from 13 to whatever age I am now.”
He thanked city council, its staff, his family and everyone who was involved in the honor.
Prior to the surprise, Lipez offered a history of the junior league field, which was created in 1958.
Following this, he shared some anecdotes and memories.
“I told City Manager Greg Wilson I had 479 anecdotes to share about events at the new junior league field. He thought that might be overkill so I’ll offer a few,” he joked.
This included learning the strength of the late Bud Yost’s — a former Lock Haven Mayor and Clinton County Commissioner — are strengths when he was able to throw a ball from centerfield which went over the backstop and “was last seen rolling down Park Street towards St. Agnes.”
Another was when legendary Lock Haven High School football coach, the late Don Malinak, umpired for junior league in the 1950s.
He said during a game in 1958, a rival team player, Bud Neyhart, attempted to catch a high popup at first base.
“Unfortunately, it came down and struck him in the nose, causing considerable bloodshed. Umpire Malinak, always hard nosed, came to check on the player, grabbed his nose and said ‘yep, it’s broken,’” Lipez recalled.
Lipez also shared his own memories from the field. This included the 1959 Rotary Championship game, later his first American Legion homerun over the right field fence and coaching his son, Jeb, in Junior League.
“It was also the site of his first Lock Haven High School homerun over center field,” he said.
“What we have here today, 68 years later, is the next phase of the junior league history for the next generation to create its own memories,” he said.
Lipez pointed to his great grandson, Hudson, who was playing in the shade of a tree behind him. Hudson was turning three years old over the weekend, he said.
“I’d love nothing more than to see, in a decade, him playing first base on this very same field as did his great-grandfather and his great-uncle,” he said.
“Baseball has always been special in this community and in this country, creating memories that we all cherish,” he continued. “Thanks to all those involved for creating the Lock Haven Junior League field in 1958 and improving it even more in 2025.”
The improvements to Taggart Park and its field — funded through the city, the Department of Economic Development and Department Conservation and Natural Resources — included new dugouts, batting cage and walking path and renovations to the restrooms and were completed in 2024.