Seaford varsity soccer coach Ralph Pascarella remembers 2009 graduate Ryan Bailey as a positive player, a great person and a hard worker.
Bailey, a former soccer and lacrosse player at was killed in a near Towson University this past March. To honor his memory, the Vikings are hosting a fundraiser for the Bailey family at Saturday's home game under the lights against Valley Stream South. The game will be a rematch of last year's first round Nassau County Class A playoff game that saw top-seeded Valley Stream South rally from a 4-1 deficit .
"Ryan's brother, Chris, is on my team as a senior this year and we all thought it'd be nice to do something for him and family to honor Ryan," said Pascarella. "In the summer, we raised money through Seaford Recreation for the family. This fall, we've made shirts for varsity and JV that honor Ryan and we'll be hosting raffles to raise additional money for the family to start a memorial scholarship fund."
According to police, Bailey was crossing an intersection near York Road and Washington Avenue last spring when an older model silver or white car was traveling north in the same lane. Bailey was pushed by the car onto the sidewalk where paramedics found the 20-year old in cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"We want to remember Ryan," Pascarella said. "He wasn't necessarily the best at soccer, but he was a great addition to the team. He was positive. He showed up, he always showed up. He was a great student. He just had a little bit of everything and everybody liked him."
Kickoff for the Seaford-Valley Stream South game honiring Bailey's memory is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Raymond Buckley Field of Dreams. The fundraiser for Vailey will feature a raffle featuring various prizes including a gift card to Landshark Bar & Grill in Freeport.
