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Dow Baseball is “People”...the parents, contributors, workers, coaches, league officials, city and school officials and fans who by deed and duty become a part of the club. All are important. Most come and go with their sons. They work hard, many extra hard, and they become friends. But most must pass on as their son moves up the ladder of baseball and life.
However, some become so involved that they cannot, or do not leave. Some part of them stays and they keep “popping” up again and again to give, give and give. These special Dow people are noted here so all may know that Les, Erin, Dean and Dow Baseball, along with all the players over the years, owe a great debt for being benefactors and special friends to Club after Club. We can only hope we remembered to include them all!
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GARY AND LOUISE COOLEY
Aaron, 1989/1990 |
| Gary and Louise headed the ‘89 Auction and brought the Club into the computer age. For many years their beautiful condo in Sun Valley was the most highly sought after item in the Auction. Yet, due to injuries, their son Aaron, a pitcher, only played 60 innings in ‘89, returning in time to win one game (record, 1-0) in the Mickey Mantle State Tournament. He was also a member of the ‘90 team, but again injuries ended his Dow career before the first pitch of the season. Incredibly, Gary and Louise worked for and supported the team throughout both seasons, even during the time their beautiful Issaquah home burned to the ground! Their Sun Valley condo donation has, over the five years, raised about $100 for every inning their son played. Truly devoted friends of Dow Baseball, they will always hold a special place of honor. |
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ED AND MARGI COOMBS |
| Mike, (Dow 1984) “Fast Eddie” and “Two Top” (yes, there’s a story behind that name) are devoted friends and supporters born of the Little League/RBA era when the Dow and Coombs boys played against each other, only joining forces on All-Star teams. In 1984, the Coombs/Dow boys played together on one of the Dow Baseball’s all time winning/record setting teams. Ed even took over coaching duties for a game or two when Coach Dow ran into a little lawsuit with Big League (yes there’s another story, and yes, he won). Since that time, year after year, the Coombs have worked and worked for Dow Baseball. Their annual contribution of cocktail/dinner cruises aboard their spectacular yacht is certainly the single biggest money maker for the Club. Ed is that “other guy” who runs the bar at our Annual Auction and Margi is the lady who helps wherever needed, from decorating, to food preparation, to clean-up, to putting together the program. Special, special people, both, and we are blessed to count them as personal friends as well-got my first tear gassing with them! |
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MATT DAVISON
Player, 1979, 81, 82, 84 & 85 - Coach, 1989, 90, 91 |
| A Dow player who “gave something back”, He was a member of the “famous” 1984 team. When his playing days were over, Matt signed up to be the Club’s pitching coach. Through all those practices for three years and 198 games, trips out of town, new job, marriage, then baby, Matt made a great commitment to Dow Baseball and the players. Sometime ask me about the single greatest baseball play in our history. Perhaps when his now three little girls are older, he’ll be back to take over from the two “old men”. |
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JOHN AND KAREN DeVORE |
| John, as President of Little League in 1984, went to bat for Dow Baseball in our court battle with Big League. John was of Immense support and help and thus a great friendship and how a seventeen year old commitment to Dow Baseball was born. You know him as one of the bartenders for our Auction each year and together with the Coombs they donated the dinner cruises that have over time raised the largest sum of money. Karen, over fourteen years, donated her time and energy to creating/organizing the wonderful menus and all the food for the Annual Auction, a stupendous undertaking. Karen, along with Margi Coombs, also prepared and served the food and drink included in the yacht dinner cruise donation. For many, many years she was head of the concession stands at the Little League/RBA fields. All this support and commitment for the past fourteen years even though none of their three sons played for Dow Baseball is testimony to their friendship and devotion to youth baseball. John and Karen are treasured friends, both personally and to Dow Baseball. |
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MIKE AND KATHY RUFERT
Brian, 1987 & 1988 - Jeff, 1981 & 1982 - Kevin, 1990, 91, 92 |
| As two of the hardest working parents in Dow Baseball, Mike worked as Tournament Director, preparing the fields, working the gate, concession while Kathy served as Head Scorer throughout Brian and Jeff’s careers, scoring all Dow games, and every game at Tournaments hosted by Dow. In addition as avid Husky fans they donated their football tickets/tailgate party to each Auction. Kevin was our batboy for three years, and Mike and Kathy got him to the games even the year between Brian and Jeff. Brian coached for the 15 year old Dow team. |
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JIM AND PATTI SIPES
Rich, 1986 |
| Their son Rich played on the great 1986 Club and, our “Travel Lady” took care of all travel/housing/entertainment needs of the Club. Jim could be found each year assisting at the bar during the Auction, or working on the fields during a Tournament (or picking up the ladies after a shopping spree, making the rest of us guys look bad!) Traveling with the team, supporting the players and harassing the coach are the hallmark of this Dow couple and Dow Baseball, as well as Les and Erin, count them as very, very special friends. |
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MARY STANLEY
Jerod, 1984 & 1985 - Jeff, 1987 |
| Mary has supported Dow Baseball since the time of the 10 year old All-Stars in West Seattle through Little League and RBA days, when we were the Elks or the RBA All Stars. She is also a past president of RBA. When her last son “graduated” in 1987 Mary remained, working the Tournaments, selling T-Shirts, manning the gate/concession, even after her move to Kent. Mary was one of Karen DeVore’s crew for many years, preparing the food for the Auction and is always ready to help the team raise money or take your place in the concession stand so you can watch your son play. |
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CURT WRIGHT
Player, 1984 - Coach, 1987 & 1988 |
| Another Dow player who gave something back to the Program. One of the finest players it was Dean and Les’ privilege to coach……….you could never tell him what he did wrong because he already knew and was headed somewhere to work on it. Curt went on to play college ball at Whitworth and College of the Pacific and for two years coached with the University of Washington Husky baseball team. He now has a family of his own in the Redmond area, and for several years, played semi-pro ball with the Seattle Stud. Curt is now coaching his daughter in Little League; what goes around comes around! |
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DALE AND MARTI MARTIN
Jeff, 1992 & 1993 - Coach, 1992 & 1993 |
| For two years, Dale gave Dow Baseball their first official “trainer”……from water to tape to anything necessary to keep the kids on the field. He was bullpen coach and a two year four Tournament Director. Marti handled scoring and concessions plus all the other duties needed to run the Club. They continue to contribute wonderful living plants to our Annual Auction from their commercial plant supply company. These two went far beyond being contributing parents of a player. They are first class people and Dow Baseball is richer for counting them as part of our Dow Family. |
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REDMOND BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (RBA) |
| The organization that “started it all”. Their continued support and cooperation throughout the last 32 years is a critical part of the success of Dow Baseball. Special thanks to Julio Garcia, Chris Stefanik, Cindy Weyer, Gil Stevens, Ron Gordon, George Linville & John Bailie and many thanks to the other past presidents and board members who worked so hard and gave the kids such a terrific place to play ball. And now we have “field turf”. Jim Palmquist has stayed to run RBA for several years after his sons were gone from the playing field-this is above and beyond the duty and we greatly appreciate his dedication to Redmond Baseball. |
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NORTHWEST BASEBALL UMPIRES ASSOCIATION & EASTSIDE UMPIRE ASSOCIATION |
| Thanks to NBUA and Eastside Umpires Association and especially to Jack Miller (who has now retired and do we miss him already-you bet!), Larry Strunk, Brian Gooch, Dean Miller, Earl & Cheryl Watts, Jerry Leamer, Larry Schultz, Phil Jordan, Kim Henry, Henry Pennmantail, Virgil Magruder, Don Morehead, Tim Stevens, Dennis Tyler, George Eshelman, Tom VanDuzer, Doug Kreie, Dan Graves, Walt Palmer, Ken, DeWitt Thorgerson, Scott, Sam, Bob, Chuck, Dick, Darrell, Lew, Gigi, Pete, Al, Marty, Eric, and Larry, Mo, & Curly-just kidding, and the many many others who we only see for a game or two here and there and who’s name is “Hey Ump”. We’re thankful for the “Pro’s” who just call the game between the lines and understand it’s just kids wanting a fair shake. Many have come and gone, they do their job and disappear into the parking lot, having contributed not only to Dow Baseball, but the betterment of our League and the sport. |
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| CITY OF REDMOND AND REDMOND PARKS DEPARTMENT |
| Thirty-four years ago when Dow hit town and discovered Hartman Park, we met Mayor Bud Young and a Park Director named John Couch. Dow is still around and John (retired and will be greatly missed) and all these years we’ve worked together, sometimes disagreeing, but always moving forward to make Hartman Park and Redmond truly the premier home of baseball, softball and youth sports. Others have come and continued the level of excellence: Mayor’s Doreen Marchione & Rosemary Ives; Tom Trueblood, Greg Byszeski, Bill Bettinger and Dan Hopkins to mention a few. Dow Baseball has special memories of good people who wanted Redmond to be the Best...and it is!” |
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HIGH SCHOOL COACHES AND OFFICIALS |
| Bruce Bain, who coached Redmond High School to its first success……”Bain’s Boys”. Bruce was a strong supporter of RBA and the efforts to develop the baseball talents of our young men. He is an important part of the history of Redmond High School baseball, RBA and Dow Baseball as well. Special thanks to Ray Cassidy who coached Redmond High School to two State Championships, and whose support of select ball players, no matter which select team they choose, should be a model for all High School coaches. Thanks as well to Denny Rieger, Redmond HS Athletic Director (Rick Rieger, Dow, ’86), Bob Albo (Newport/Bellevue) and Bob Levitin (Interlake) who were the ultimate in providing support and letting the boys just play the game. Thanks to JT D’Amico coach of Eastlake High School for his support of the boys his ability to improve the facilities and having the kahonas to say it like it is....We appreciate you all, in differing ways, you are models for the Dow Baseball System. |
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| BRANDY PUGH - IN MEMORIUM
November 19, 1966 - March 15, 1999 |
Brandy Pugh (Dow ’85) A former player who returned for several years to work with the Dow 16-U catchers in the winter workouts,
although he never coached during the summers. Brandy a outstanding catcher for Dow and Lake Washington High School had a 1.9 release and a true love of the game. Brandy loved to coach, coached in Jr High (Baseball & Football) was the head baseball coach at Mercer Island High School. Brandy left us after a long illness, but will always be remembered for being such a giving person.
-Brandy left us far too soon-
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Betty Wingerson, Todd, (Dow ’86), Pam Summa (Peter-Dow ‘89 & ’90) and Sharon Creek have long worked the Dow Auction.
Referred to as “Karen’s Helpers” these ladies continue to support Dow Baseball even though their kids are no longer in the program, and in Sharon’s case, never in the program. Just special people all.
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BOB & JUDY PUGMIRE |
We always said it would be a bad year when no more Pugmire’s are running thru the halls of Dow Baseball, so as of 2002... it’s a bad year. Jeff, Chris, Brian and finally Rob coaching us to a World Series win in Oklahoma City have come and gone and it seems like it happened over night. But what memories! A special family has graced our Dow Club and the entire program is the better. The Pugmire’s join Dow History as the on of over Forty families to trust us with three of their boys who played and one of only tow families to give us four boys (Rob is really a young man and we consider him “ours”). Thanks Bob and Judy for your sons and for your support of Dow Baseball.
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BECKY BUCKLEY
1996 & counting - Joel- Coach Dow 96 |
President of Sandy Koufax (6yrs), CABA Regional Director, 1996 Regional Director of the Year for CABA , 1999 CABA Person of the Year, 1999 AABC Regional Woman of the Year, nominated for USA Woman of the Year. AND The Queen of Baseball, an avid Dow Baseball Fan; and the clubs top recruiter since 1996 our scorer Travel Lady, and Special Fan, who gave her only son to the Dow cause (Coach of Dow 16’s-1996) and remains a #1 fan. “DID YOU GET THAT, BECKY?” Becky has other talents some times not greatly appreciated - “TARGET PAINTER”, and she just loves to field calls for Les - so call her anytime. She also has a list of teams that we just cannot loose to, if we do she’s in a funk for a week!
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ERIN DOW
1984 & counting - Les (Dow 84-Present) |
Secretary of Dow Baseball Club, and Puget Sound Baseball League, if Becky had not already registered the name “Queen of Baseball” it would have to go to Erin, who is the soother, the one who institutes change and who keeps Les from flying into space. Her support of the boys and her husband, culminates at the Annual Year End Party when she puts together the trophies for the kids and we say good bye to that years crop. Without Erin, you guys would still be wearing blue pants and red satin jackets (and Dow Baseball would have much more money) . Without Erin, Les would be a grouchy old man who would yell at the boys and never change anything. Now he’s just grouchy, thinks he’s young and changes under great duress. Dow Baseball is a better place because of Erin.
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JOE FLYNN
1999 & counting |
Began as Manager and Coach of the Dow 15’s in 1999 and 2000, moving to the Dow Seniors North in 2001. When his son moved on to College in 2002 Joe stayed to help administer the Dow Senior Team, do his magic at the Annual Auction and raise funds for the Media Guide. Joe again stayed with Dow for 2004, working the auction, running the Media guide preparation and raising funds for the printing...all with no son running the bases for Dow. Joe is a Special Person and we appreciate wife Renee for loaning him to Dow.
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JIM PALMQUIST
1995 & counting we hope |
| JIm gave two sons to Dow Baseball...Joe, Dow ‘97 & ’98 and Mike, Dow ‘99. He has served with RBA as an Officer since 1995 when Julio Garcia brought him into RBA as VP for the 13’s. Jim took over the Presidency in 1998 when Julio retired (from RBA) and since 1998 has been the steel that has kept RBA functioning. RBA, through Joe, joined forces to raise money for the new Hartman Field Turf, has been the guy you call when the key is missing or the Coke machine is malfunctioning, and he does it all with a smile. Joe is one of the rare people who is truly irreplaceable to Dow! |
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