Remembering Jean Ayers

Hi. As many of you know, we lost a friend, mentor and true champion for youth sports earlier this year. Jean Ayers meant so much to so many over the years. With her passing, an idea was born to recognize her efforts in starting the first organized girls' softball program for Monticello, Indiana.

The idea of having a softball diamond named after Jean took hold and was presented to the Monticello Parks Board. This was unanimously approved. We were also given permission to create a plaque to be displayed at the softball complex.

After several reiterations, we have settled on a sign and plaque. Now, we need to raise the funds to pay for those. The total cost is approximately $2200 including materials to affix the sign and plaque. Any additional funds raised will be donated to the softball organization, to Special Olympics or to any other organization JT, Sean or Eric would choose.

The plaque will be bronze with the following along with the photo shown above:

Jean W. Ayers

Jean was a pioneer for girls’ softball in Monticello, IN. In April 1974, after a devastating tornado tore through town, Jean addressed Monticello’s Little League Organization and proposed creating a slow pitch softball league to help the young girls in the area learn sportsmanship, team attitude and general support for girls their own age. Her idea was approved, and she began this new, and not so small endeavor.

Jean started the program with four teams. She found managers and coaches, arranged for team shirts and hats, found fields to play on, created schedules and held tryouts in only a few weeks. By June 1, 1974, the first games were played. In the second year, Jean found enough players and sponsors for seven teams and was able to get full uniforms for the players.

In 1977, Jean formed the first fast-pitch league for older girls in the United Girls Softball Inc. program. Again, working with several parents, she was able to create the league, find sponsors and uniforms and find fields to play on. In the UGSI league’s third season, 1979, the all-star team won the first girls’ softball State Championship for Monticello!

Jean did all of this for the girls in the community while raising three boys of her own. Jean’s immense self-sacrifice to the youth of Monticello was shown in many ways. Jean was active in Cub Scouts and Special Olympics. She drove a school bus for many years including driving to many athletic events. She even helped children with their spelling lessons while on her bus. Jean genuinely cared about every child she came into contact with. Her impact on the community will live on for generations to come.

This has truly been a team effort by several girls who played softball in those first years. Because Jean had an idea to bring organized softball to our community, girls were given an opportunity to flourish in a sport they loved and bring multiple girls' state championships to Monticello.