A champion for children and youth sports is now memorialized at the fields where she grew up playing, and later served as a volunteer.

More than 70 people gathered for the dedication of Kayla Owens Field on Sunday, March 19 at the James Standard Little League Park, 124 W. Silberhorn Road.

Two of her children Nevaeh, 14, and Liam, 11, threw out ceremonial pitches caught by their dad Cody Owens and friend Lucy Spelker.

Nevaeh said the Sequim Little League’s honor naming the field after her mom is “very special because she’s done a lot to help the whole Little League.”

“It was surprising at first,” she said. “But it means a lot to do this and for all these people to come.”

Last season, Little League players wore “KO” patches to honor Nevaeh’s mom.

Owens, 34, died in her sleep on April 19, 2022. A service was held on May 1, 2022 at the Little League fields. She was a former softball player and served on the Little League board starting in 2019.

“She’s looking down on us from heaven,” said Stephen Rosales, master of ceremony on Sunday. He encouraged people to take their children to the field and discuss its significance.

“Kayla may be gone but it’s up to you to let people never forget,” Rosales said.

Originally, the field was named Champion Field to represent the players. Reading a statement from the board of directors, Rosales said they “unanimously voted to change the name of this field because Kayla stood for and acted for the players on these fields in everything she did here.”

“Kayla Owens represents players in their youth, and the growth they go through on these fields, playing this game, and the influence it has in shaping their character, and the influences we all have on one another as we pass through these gates, either as players, parents, fans, or volunteers,” Rosales said.

“Let’s continue to make those influences always positive. It’s for the kids to shape them into the adults they will become.

“Kayla was a champion on the field and a champion in life.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Kamden Owens, 3, greets Stephen Rosales during a ceremony renaming a field the Kayla Owens Field at the James Standard Park to honor Kamden’s mom.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ More than 70 people attended a Sequim Little League ceremony dedicating the new Kayla Owens Field on March 19.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Family members of Kayla Owens gather for a photo after a Sequim Little League ceremony dedicating the new Kayla Owens Field on March 19.