Batesville baseball field named in honor of beloved longtime local coach, fan

Moorman was a fixture at sporting events in Southeast Indiana

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – The legacy of a man synonymous with sports in Southeast Indiana will live on in Batesville. 

Oldenburg resident John ‘Ace’ Moorman passed away at the age of 89 in December. 

He graduated from Batesville High School in 1953 and went on to play basketball at the University of Cincinnati, where he befriended hoops legend Oscar Robertson. 

Ace served as an American Legion baseball coach for nearly three decades. 

He was also named to the Indiana High School basketball silver anniversary team and was a member of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Moorman could often be found at sports events throughout Southeast Indiana.

“But it wasn’t the sporting events he cherished most; it was the people. Ace considered southeastern Indiana “God’s country”.  He knew almost everyone, and everyone knew him,” his family said.

On Wednesday, the Batesville Parks & Recreation board voted to name the baseball field at Liberty Park as ‘Ace Moorman Field.’