Friends of murdered Melbourne baseballer Christopher Lane say they're relieved the pain of a murder trial is finally over.
Chancey Luna, 17, was found guilty of first-degree murder on Friday and will likely spend the rest of his life in jail for killing the talented athlete.
Lane, 22, who was on a baseball scholarship in the US, was shot in the back while jogging on a street in Duncan, Oklahoma in August 2013.
His former Essendon Baseball Club coach John Edwards said he was glad the trial was finally over for Lane's parents Peter and Donna, and sisters Erin, Andrea and Jennifer.
"Now that justice is done they can finally have some peace," he told AAP.
"They won't have to go back and forth to the US to get justice for their boy and I'm sure it's a relief for the family.
"That makes their friends and family very grateful."
Mr Edwards was behind a 38,000 signature petition to have Australia's first Little League field constructed and named as a memorial for his friend.
US Major League Baseball has agreed to fund the project and Mr Edwards said he's hopeful construction will begin in August.
"The one positive out of all of this is that we have been able to find a way to honour Chris's memory," he said.
"There's every chance that in four or five years his nieces and nephews will be out running on a field named for him and that's something that makes a lot of us happy."
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