City dedicates new Bobby Richardson Field at Riley Park

The new Bobby Richardson Field at Sumter's 90-year-old Riley Park was dedicated on Saturday, Feb. 10, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Richardson, former Yankees second baseman, and Sumter Mayor David Merchant, among other Sumter officials. The event was held before the USC Sumter Fire Ants' doubleheader against Brunswick Community College. The park has been renovated while keeping the spirit and historic look of Riley Park intact with a new outfield wall, new turf outside the foul lines, new bullpens, sub-surface drainage systems, MLB standard pitching mount and infield elevations. The City of Sumter thanked Sumter legislative delegation, Speaker of the House Rep. Murrell Smith, Rep. David Weeks, Sen. Thomas McElveen and Sen. Kevin Johnson, for the funding they helped secure and their support for Riley Park.