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Long Island Community Mourns Loss Of Youth Baseball Coach

YAPHANK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island community is mourning the loss of a youth baseball coach who friends said died doing what he loved.

Richard Becher, 50, of Holbrook was struck in the head by a ball while pitching batting practice for his son's team at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank on Saturday.

Long Island Community Mourns Loss Of Youth Baseball Coach

Becher was pitching from behind an L screen, which is designed to protect a pitcher during batting practice, CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported. As soon as he was hit, his son and teammates were quickly ushered off the field.

Becher was rushed to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Center, where he died.

On Monday, Becher's family spoke out about the tragic death.

"(McLogan: Do you think he peeked his head around or what might have happened?) I don't know -- just a freak thing. Nobody that I know of actually saw it happen," said John Bree, Becher's brother-in-law.

"It's just so hard. I'm more-so in denial, it doesn't feel real ," said Becher's niece Brittany Bree. "I got to say goodbye to him in the hospital."

"He's a guy, if you met him once, you'd never forget him," John Bree added. "He would do anything for you. He was always there. It's just a horrible loss."

Friends described Becher as a dedicated father and community leader.

"He just did everything right," said friend and fellow coach Fred Forgione. "He cared about everybody, was always trying to make everybody happy, and it's a big loss for our community."

Forgione said once the shock of the tragedy passes, additional sports safety measures will be implemented in Becher's honor, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

"He was doing something he truly loved," Forgione said. "The baseball community is going to do everything they can to turn this into as much of a positive as possible and get more protective gear for the kids and the coaches and try to do what we can to make sure a tragedy like this never occurs again."

Sachem Little League said it is considering having coaches wear masks and helmets while on the field. Officials with Baseball Heaven are arranging counseling for children and coaches.

Friends and family have already organized a Rich Becher Memorial Scholarship Fund in the name of sports safety, McLogan reported.

Bechers's wake is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. He will be laid to rest on Thursday.

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