Mid America Softball

I do not mind telling the story. These things are hard to write, I feel they need to be written to provide comfort for the family.

We all battle between the lines on the weekend, we all must come home after to our families and friends outside the lines. Things like these are deeper than softball in our small community.

The Indy Knights were a very unique softball team for around 5-8 years. They all were probably couples just out there having a blast playing the game. A tight knit and well-respected group with great players and people. Part of that group was Crystal and Brian Clark.

As I know both of them, it goes deeper than that for me as John Clark was one of my HS Coaches and he is the AD at Ben Davis. I know Alan Driver as well, as he played and is a LEO on the west side.

As a parent, you always worry about your kids, whether it be at School, sports and especially when they start driving, etc. That is just human instinct. You just hope and pray that nothing ever happens. You hope you never get that call.

I have been doing this for decades, I have met so many wonderful people in this game. It's very hard to explain and process when unimaginable things happen. And they have, I have had to watch one of my relatives (5 Year old) buried in my son’s wrestling singlet, Tim lost his daughter, my niece and all the other passing's of people we all knew from this great game we are all a part of. And then this with this fine family that we all care about.

So, the unthinkable and unimaginable did happen last weekend within our community, the Clark’s on a casual camping trip, just riding around in a golf cart with their 2 precious little kids on a beautiful day. And from nowhere, tragedy struck when a dead tree was blown over and took the life from those 2 young angels right in front of their parents. Just heart wrenching to believe this happened to this fine family. No doubt they are going thru unsustainable pain trying to process all of this. Just unbearable to even write that this happened to those young kids and their family.

I want them to know, that the whole softball community is wrapping their arms around you and your family to help you thru this situation, and provide as much comfort as humanly possible. We are all praying for you and your family.

Words cannot express how deeply we all feel for you during this time. But we are here for whatever you need. The world was blessed with their incredible presence for the short time they were here, and we all will miss them dearly.

I will conclude this from an article that I believe the parents wrote.
#prayersfortheclarks/drivers
#softballforthefamily
#westsidforthefamily
#indyknights

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Our perfect children, Alexander “Xander”, age 9, and Ziva Clark, age 8, the beloved son and daughter of Brian and Crystal Clark, passed away April 23, 2022. Both were exemplary straight-A students at Robey Elementary School. Xander was in 3rd grade Horizons and Ziva was in 2nd grade.

Xander excelled in martial arts and was a 4th Level 1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. He was also a talented basketball player and practiced every single day despite the weather. He was an enthusiastic Pacers fan and dreamed of being a professional basketball player and a part-time meteorologist. In his spare time, Xander loved to fish and soak in the outdoors.

Ziva was a competitive gymnast at Westside Gymnastics. She practiced daily on her balance beam and bars to perfect her routines. She was 1st Place All Around and placed 4th in State Competition. She devoted her time to mastering her skills so she could be an Olympic gymnast or a professional snowboarder. Ziva excelled in many gymnastic events and won many competitions this year. Ziva also loved throwing Xander's fish back into the pond after he caught them, however she would always kiss them before she sent them back to the water.

Along with their parents, survivors include grandparents John and Carol Clark. Mr. Clark is a longtime Wayne Township teacher and Athletic Director who touched many lives during his career. His wife Carol is always by his side and devoted just as much time to the township; Grandparents Lori and Kevin Marsh, who are extraordinary and loving grandparents loved them beyond the stars and always helped expand their minds in every way possible and Grandparents Alan and Suzanne Driver. Alan is a Retired IMPD Police Officer/Motorcycle Officer. He and his wife Suzanne, have always put their family before all else and do anything for any family at the drop of a hat. Many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins are left behind to cherish the memories of Xander and Ziva and share their stories of how two young beautiful kids impacted their lives. A Memorial Service to honor their legacies will be held later on in the week.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial foundation has been established on behalf of Xander and Ziva at the Professional Police Officers Credit Union located at 1502 Washington St., Indianapolis, IN. This will serve as a way to support the activities they enjoyed most, and were near and dear to their hearts. This includes, but is not limited to, Westside Gymnastics, The Way Martial Arts, and Robey Elementary, as well as any future needs in support of Brian, Crystal, Xander, and Ziva.
Please continue to keep the Clark and Driver Families in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.