The Lincoln Land Community College baseball team remembered sophomore catcher Michael Roberson with a moment of silence before a doubleheader against Spoon River College at Claude Kracik Field on Friday, May 1.
Roberson, of Minooka, died in a single-car accident near Dwight while traveling back to campus on Wednesday, according to reports. He was 20.
The Loggers painted his No. 13 behind home plate prior to the final home series of the regular season. A candlelight vigil is also scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4 near Cass Gymnasium.
“Michael was very popular on the team,” LLCC baseball coach Steve Torricelli said in a phone interview on Thursday. “He always had a smile on his face. He was just a fun, loving kind of character in a good way — full of personality, can make you laugh and a very talented player, too.”
Roberson, a New Lenox Providence Catholic High School graduate who transferred from John A. Logan College, was set to play at NAIA Ottawa University in Kansas.
Torricelli said his team has received an outpouring of support.
“On behalf of Lincoln Land baseball and the college, we really appreciate everyone’s support whether it’s through just reaching out to our program and support from people within the baseball community here locally and then all the people that see what kind of a tragedy this is that have reached out from really all around the country,” Torricelli said. “We just want to thank them and if they can support the Roberson family, continued support would be appreciative.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Lincoln Land baseball remembers sophomore catcher after fatal accident
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
