The local softball community is mourning the loss of one of their own who was killed in a crash on Route 8 in Butler Township early Tuesday morning.
The crash happened just before 8 a.m. Tuesday on Route 8, just outside of the City of Butler. Two cars traveling in opposite directions collided.
Police say 50-year-old Michael Harris died in the crash. The driver of the other car was flown to the hospital.
“A punch in the stomach, a hard punch in the stomach. Thought I felt like I wanted to throw up immediately. Can’t be him, can’t be him,” Kenny Lehman said.
Lehman was devastated. The two co-founded the River City Venom, a travel softball league, after they both coached softball in Mars. Harris also coached Pine Richland softball.
“Mike took any kid. Mike would always help. He was probably one of the fiercest coaches on the field, but he didn’t necessarily care about winning on the field. He cared that those kids were winning in life,” Lehman said.
Lehman said Harris meant a lot to so many people, whether the players on his teams, the parents, or his friends and family.
“He was unbelievable,” Lehman said. “... He was a tremendous father, a tremendous guy. That guy did anything for anybody.”
Harris leaves behind his wife and three young adult daughters.
Lehman said so many people were asking what they could do to help Harris’ family, so he and his wife set up a GoFundMe.
“They would do it for us. This is the way humanity should be. A group of people helping people,” Lehman said. “That GoFundMe will be to support them in any capacity that they’re going to need going forward because I mean, this is a tragic, tragic loss.”
Lehman wants Harris’ family to know the community will be with them through this difficult time.
“A good coach will win a game. A great coach will change a life, and Mike changed many,” Lehman said.
If you’d like to help the Harris family, click here.
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