By Lisa Marinelli
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 15, 2003

OCEANSIDE – Shawn Pederson remembers the joy in her little boy's face when she took him to buy his first soccer cleats and shin guards 11 years ago.

But the highlight for the blond-haired, blue-eyed child was picking out his soccer ball – a requirement to be on the Soccer Club of Oceanside team.

The experience was the beginning of a nine-year odyssey for Shawn and Chris Pederson as they watched the sport shape their only son's personality. That's why when Fletcher died Jan. 30, six days after he was hit by a car, they decided to use donations in his name to set up soccer scholarships.

They hope to extend to other children the benefits that soccer can bring to their lives.

"It was one of the things that made him feel very, very good about himself," Fletcher's mother said. "It instilled the character traits that everyone admired about him."

Those included commitment to the sport and players, leadership, sportsmanship and tolerance, she said.

Fletcher suffered fatal injuries when he was hit by a car while crossing West San Marcos Boulevard near San Marcos High School. He was 16.

Investigators said the driver was not at fault.

In the midst of their despair, the Pedersons decided to ask family and friends to send donations in lieu of flowers so they could set up the scholarships.

Every year, for as long as the money lasts, a player with characteristics Fletcher displayed will be awarded $375 to cover registration fees for the club. Judged on the same criteria, two players, one at El Camino High School and one from Oceanside High, will get $500 each as a college scholarship.

In addition, the more than $5,000 the Pedersons have collected so far will enable them to sponsor a Soccer Club of Oceanside team every year.

"Fletcher was pretty much the heart of the team because he made everyone else around him better," said Julio Barragan, 24, who coached him on the Breakers for three years.

Barragan said Fletcher – who played sweeper, was co-captain and ran drills – was a true leader who had the respect of the team.

Through example and some firm words, Fletcher demanded that his teammates accept the only female player on the team, Barragan said. The eulogy at his funeral recalled how he and another player stood guard at the restroom door so no one would bother her.

After leaving the Breakers at age 14, Fletcher helped Barragan coach younger kids.

Shawn Pederson recalled the miles logged in her Suburban taking Fletcher, his teammates and his sisters, Charlie, 14, and Kelsey, 12, to games. She laughed about the hundreds of oranges she cut for snacks and the quirky things that happened during their the seemingly endless weekend tournaments.

The memories help the Pedersons cope with their loss.

In a fitting end to Fletcher's funeral, about 50 players rushed the stage, huddled with his framed No. 20 jersey and yelled his name.

"It was a beautiful, beautiful moment," Shawn Pederson said.