Sun City softball player remembers 'greatest fan'

George Kriplean watched our Sun City Senior Softball Club games from his driveway in his wheelchair for five years, too shy to come to the ballfield.

My wife and I would wave as we passed his house on the way to games. One day, we decided to give George a game-winning softball. The next day, his wife, Pat, emailed the softball club. Announcer Jack McCormack announced they would like to thank whoever gave George the softball. Pat explained he had stage four cancer, only months to live, and that he was so happy to get the softball.

We invited George and Pat to watch games at the field. They did, and players signed a softball for George, who loved it. Players and their families would also go up and talk to both.

I asked the club if we could give George a jersey. He was so happy when we presented him the jersey, and wore it every time he came to a game.

Our club loves to honor Hall of Fame and other players by putting their names on bricks, so we asked if the club would put “Greatest fan George Kriplean 2025” on a brick.

A couple of weeks later, George and Pat came to a game. I stopped George as he came onto the field, then moved aside and told him to look down. When he saw his name, he teared up, and I said, “George, welcome to our family.” Pat called their kids to tell them, and said it brought tears to their eyes.

Our club has a tournament for players who have passed, and we asked if we could have one for George, who died July 29. George’s oldest daughter, Kathleen, played in the tournament, and did very well. George would be very proud of her.

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