HILLSBORO, Kan. – DK Baseball Clinics (DKBC) announced on Friday that Lily Arthur, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Tabor College and longtime servant leader with the Tabor College Baseball program, has been selected as the April 2026 Legacy Edition Tribute Program honoree. Her recognition will be formally presented on April 18^th, 2026, between the Bluejays' scheduled doubleheader with Sterling.
 
Arthur becomes the first Legacy Edition Tribute Bat recipient from the state of Kansas and the 19^th official honoree since the program's founding in 2017, marking a significant milestone in the Legacy Edition's mission to honor individuals whose character and service strengthen the game of baseball.
 
Raised by a mother who loved the ballparks, the game of baseball, and the people who gathered around them, Lily grew up immersed in baseball's rhythms. She recalls watching WGN-TV broadcasts as a child and feeling instantly at home. She grew up playing shortstop and second base, grateful for the early introduction that shaped her life. Her passion for the sport continued into adulthood, leading her to visit 26 Major League ballparks, following in her mother's footsteps and carrying forward a shared family tradition.
 
Arthur has long been a staple in the Tabor Baseball program, beginning her service in 2003 when then-Head Coach John Sparks asked for her help in inputting statistics online. That simple request sparked a decades-long commitment. She later began handling live gameday statistics, serving under multiple coaching staffs, including Coach Mark Standiford, beginning in 2009. She quickly became known for noticing needs and meeting them without fanfare.
 
In 2005, when the bleachers needed painting, she gathered students and made it happen. She remembers it simply as "fun", a reflection of her servant-hearted approach.
 
Today, she continues to volunteer faithfully with the baseball program. She keeps live and electronic stats, travels with the team, photographs players, sews torn uniforms, assists with equipment needs, takes care of travel arrangements, and supports media day operations. Arthur also tutors players in the lobby and study hall, helping them succeed academically as well as athletically. Student-athletes call her "Coach", "Cool Aunt", and "Team Mom".
 
When asked what message she would share with the players, coaches, and the Tabor community, Lily responded with humility, "It's a joy to be there. I'm thankful to be with them."
 
Lily's love for the game is inseparable from her love for her mother. To honor her, she purchased a commemorative brick at Wrigley Field inscribed: "#1 Mom, Marlene Arthur. Go Cubs! Love, Lily."
 
Her reflection on that tribute captures the heart behind her lifelong devotion: "Baseball matters to me because my mom introduced me to the game and with it, a place to belong. We spent so many days at the field that somewhere along the way, it stopped being a place and started feeling like home."
 
"Lily represents everything that the Legacy Edition Tribute Program stands for", said Mischeal Steinert, DKBC Communications Director, who conducted the March 26^th, 2026, interview. "Her service is steady, her presence is uplifting, and her impact is felt far beyond the field. She strengthens the game by strengthening the people in it."
 
DKBC Legacy Edition Tribute Program National Advisor Rick Davis, who selected Arthur as the official April honoree, echoed that sentiment: "Selecting Lily Arthur as our April honoree was an easy decision. Her dedication to Tabor Baseball, her unwavering support for student-athletes, and her lifelong love for the game reflect the very heart of what the Legacy Edition Tribute Program exists to celebrate, Lily strengthens baseball by strengthening people – and that is the highest form of service our sport can receive."
 
Davis concluded, "Lily's contribution to America's pastime and Tabor College Baseball is immeasurable and a reflection of her, and for the love of the game."
 
The April 18 ceremony will honor Arthur's contributions and present her with the official Legacy Edition Tribute recognition before the Tabor College community, Bluejay Baseball, and supporters throughout the region.
 
The DK Baseball Clinics Legacy Edition Tribute Program honors individuals whose character, service, and influence elevate the game of baseball and the communities it touches. Recipients are selected for their integrity, humility, and lasting impact on players, programs, and the spirit of the sport.
 
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