Letter: Memories of Harmon Field baseball
Here is an addition to old friend and classmate Bill Herr's article on longest home runs at Harmon Field diamond. I witnessed two legitimate homers, including the Brad Komminsk blast over trees, Riley Creek and onto the Triplett parking lot.
Spike Berry and I played several years of Bluffton High School and American Legion summer baseball together, he as pitcher/second baseman and I was the first baseman. We witnessed a similar homer to the Triplett lot hit by Cleo Vaughn. Vaughn was an all-state athlete from Lima Central High School who later became the first African-American basketball player at Ohio State. He
lettered one year at OSU before transferring to Alabama A&M.
I saw the Komminsk homer because son Jon made his first start at first base for BHS that day, along with other freshmen. Shawnee's veteran team beat the Pirates 32-4 or something like that.
Berry also recalled Marlow Wehrly from Pandora, who played with our legion team one summer, hitting a batting practice homer that ended at the football stadium. His personal bat was so big that we called it a wagon tongue. Later Berry and I played summer ball against Bill Guice, a former Chicago Cubs player, who hit some long homers in Lima. It made us nervous at second and first base since he was a left handed pull hitter who hit scorching line drives. We're still alive so I don't recall any hit at us.
Ron Geiser
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, October 9, 2026
- Pirate girls soccer loss vs. St. Marys
- Pirate volleyball sweeps Carey
- “The Trumpet Player” sculpture at Bluffton University receives conservation grant
- October 9 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Plenty of action at Oct 10 Dillinger robbery reenactment and motorcycle show
- Caitlyn Couch junior piano recital, October 16
- Bluffton community survey opens for Active Transportation Plan
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines on Thursday, October 8
- St. John Bible Church to host "Refocus on Purpose" workshop
- Royal riches: Gout
- Has Bluffton made a birder out of you?
- BPL Afterschool activity: Curious Kids Club
- Book and pizza tasting at Bluffton Public Library
- Final 50 for 250 performance at BPL
- Walking through the Suter Corn Maze
- Resident feedback sought for Regional Transportation Plan
- Bluffton University honors three for service, achievement and leadership
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting, Friday, Oct. 9
- Fire extinguished at SRK Industries, plant resumed operation same day
- Bluffton girls tie Grove in NWC showdown
- Pirate volleyball falls to powerhouse Patriots
- BHS GOAT: Latin teacher Margaret Weaver
- Library patrons invited to showcase their collections or causes
- September 2026 land transfers in the Bluffton school district