Like many boys, Devin Hiestand dreamed of being a major league baseball player.

He went with his father, Dale Hiestand, to see the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles play.

The dream of wearing a big-league uniform took root as Devin watched softball games as a boy at a neighborhood sandlot known as "Hiestand Field."

Those dreams died Wednesday afternoon when Devin, 18, was killed in an all-terrain vehicle crash near his Bainbridge home. He was riding the ATV with a friend when the vehicle struck a hole, throwing off both riders. Devin struck a fence and died at the scene. "It was an accident," said Gail C. Hiestand, Devin's sister. "A tragic accident."

Gail reflected on a life cut short before a memorial service for Devin, held Monday night at Community Bible Church in Marietta.

Devin, a Lancaster Mennonite School senior, grew up playing baseball in the Conoy Township Recreational League. He developed an encyclopedic mind for sports facts and professional athletes, his sister said.

"From a really early age, Devin followed every sport and knew all the key players from every team by name," she said. "Devin knew the players and could talk intelligently to any adult about it, even from age 8 or 9. His memory was unbelievable; he could talk about a game that occurred a year prior and tell you the score and what happened."

After school, Devin typically rode all-terrain vehicles to the sandlot field and ate hot dogs as the men played.

"When he was little he would come home from school every day and ride the four-wheeler across the fields to Hiestand's ballfield to watch men's softball games," she said.

"He didn't care who was playing; he just wanted to watch the games and eat hot dogs.

"When the baseball fields were torn down a few years ago, he said, 'This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.'!\p "

Although Devin's desire to become a big leaguer lessened as he got older, the pleasure of riding all-terrain vehicles never did, Gail said.

He was riding the family's ATV with friend Quran Brown, 18, about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Brown was driving along a fence near the 100 block of Wickersham Road when the ATV struck a large hole.

Brown was flown to Hershey Medical Center, where he was treated and released several days later.

Police have said Brown won't be charged in the accident.

Brown had recently moved into the Hiestand home because he had nowhere else to go, Gail said.

"(Devin) was the kind of friend that would reach out to anyone in need," Gail said. "When his friend, Quran, needed a place to stay, Devin immediately asked his parents if Quran could live with them."

Devin enjoyed being outdoors and started hunting with his father as a teenager, his sister said. He killed his first deer at age 14 and went on to bag six others, including two 8 pointers.

As graduation neared, Devin had considered a career in culinary arts or the restaurant industry.

He worked part time at Village Homestead Restaurant in Bainbridge.

"Devin had a smile on his face from the day he was born," Gail said.

"His smile could melt any heart, whether he was a baby or 18 years old."

E-mail Brett Lovelace at blovelace@lnpnews.com.