IRVINE : Lasting Tribute to Late Baseball Star

The Windrow Park baseball stadium is expected to become the Ryan Lemmon Stadium this week in memory of the 19-year-old Woodbridge High School baseball star who died with two friends in an auto accident on a desolate Arizona highway.

The City Council is expected to approve the new name Tuesday for the 400-seat stadium, which is operated jointly by the city and school district. The Irvine Unified School District board approved the decision last week.

A ceremony is planned at the stadium Friday during the baseball game between Woodbridge and Irvine high schools.

“To him, baseball was life,” said Anthony Korba, a former coach and family friend who led the effort to rename the stadium. “It was his way of learning life’s lessons.”

The center-fielder and relief pitcher was on the varsity squad at Woodbridge High School all four years and established seven school records. He was voted most valuable player in 1993 during his senior year. After graduation, he played at Pepperdine University and dreamed of making the big leagues.

Lemmon was driving home from the University of Arizona in September with three friends after visiting former classmates when his pickup truck drifted into the median. Arizona authorities said Lemmon may have dozed at the wheel, then overcompensated, causing the truck to roll.

Also killed in the crash were Lemmon’s childhood friends Babak (Bob) Dogmetchi, 20, and Arash Ghazinoor, 19. Christopher Peake, 19, was the only survivor.

Ryan’s father, accountant Guy Lemmon, said he hopes the stadium and a statue planned in memory of his son will symbolize his son’s love of baseball.

The night before his son left for Tucson, Guy Lemmon said they talked late into the night about the future.

“He told me, ‘Dad, I can be just like you, but first I’ve got to chase my dream. I really believe I can make a living and be a professional baseball player,’ ” Lemmon said. “This was a kid who really loved the game. He loved the experience.”