SOUTHEAST DENVER & SOFTBALL LEAGUE- 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION June 25, 2017

Hargrove Park @ Holly Hills 2851 S. Locust Street Denver, CO 80224

MISSION STATEMENT OF LEAGUE, INC. The Babe Ruth Baseball/Softball program, using regulation competitive baseball and softball rules, teaches skills, mental and physical development, a respect for the rules of the game, and basic ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. In all aspects, Babe Ruth League, Inc. is committed to providing our participants the very best educational, sports experience possible. It is our fundamental belief that every child with a desire to play baseball or softball be afforded that opportunity. SOUTHEAST DENVER BASEBALL & SOFTBALL LEAGUE

Our mission is to assist youth in developing qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being with proper guidance and exemplary leadership!

SPORTSMANSHIP CODE OF BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC. Develop a strong, clean, healthy body, mind and soul. Develop a strong urge for sportsmanlike conduct. Develop understanding of and respect for the RULES. Develop courage in defeat, tolerance and modesty in victory. Develop control over emotions and speech. Develop spirit of cooperation and team play. Develop into real, true CITIZENS. Copyright 1954 by Babe Ruth League, Inc.

PROGRAM

Registration-2 PM; Program- 3 PM

Invocation Taylor Hargrove

Welcome/Opening Remarks Jason Hirsh, Master of Ceremonies

National Anthem Amanda Ray

City & County Denver-District 4 Councilwoman Kendra Black

Babe Ruth League Alumni Board of Directors Chairman Mark Watkins

Southeast Denver League Hall of Fame Remarks Mike Lutz Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball Hall of Fame Inductions

Closing Remarks David Hargrove

The year is 1966. The Orioles would surprise the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series….and a group of local area men decide to begin a youth baseball league in southeast Denver…. thus, with the birth of the Southeast Denver Baseball League (SEDBL), play begins in 1967 with a few 11/12-year-old teams using an open space area located behind the Schlessman YMCA as their base field. Denny McLain, former MLB Detroit Tiger , came and helped dedicate the field. Two years later the League negotiated with the Cherry Creek School District for the use of an open field north of Holly Hills Elementary School. Within two years, weeds are removed; the area cleared; a backstop and fences installed-the “permanent” home field is turned from a “vision” into a live action filled baseball field-the field used today, with a few significant upgrades, nearly 50 years later. SEDBSL celebrates their 50th anniversary of providing youth baseball and softball to the community, with today marking the official anniversary celebration.

In conjunction with this special celebration year, SEDBSL will host the Cal Ripken State 11/12-year old state tournament June 6-9 and the Cal Ripken Midwest Plains 10-Year Old Regional Tournament July 19-23 here at Lutz field at Hargrove Park @ Holly Hills.

In the early years, SEDBL was affiliated with Little League, Inc.-in 1972 the 11/12-year-old All Star team won the District Tournament, then the State Tournament and came within one out of winning the Regional Tournament and advancing to the World Series in Williamsport. The next year, coupled with the success of the 12-year olds, the league expanded to include a senior baseball division. Faced with the need for an adequate Senior Division sized field, the founding fathers negotiated with the City & County of Denver to put up a “senior baseball field” not too far away from their Holly Hills field at Bible Park. Over the years modifications have been made to the senior baseball field, including moving the entire field approximately 100 feet south to add additional parking in conjunction with the drainage and parking improvements to the park in the late 1990’s. SEDBSL continues to use the field, renamed “Alan Miller Field” in 2003, out of respect and appreciation to one of SEDBL’s founders, who along with another league early contributor, Bill Blodgett, are both in the Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame. Allan was inducted in 1996 in the initial Colorado Babe Ruth League Hall of Fame; Bill followed in 1998. League volunteers David Hargrove (2008), Bruce Jones (2012) and Mike Lutz (2016) bring the total to five SE Denver volunteers in the Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame.

SEDBL changed affiliations in 1984 joining Babe Ruth Baseball in their senior division. A short time later in 1987 they affiliated with the Bambino Division (currently named the Cal Ripken Division) of Babe Ruth League, Inc. In 1995, SEDBSL added Babe Ruth Softball-the final puzzle piece, at the time, of the Babe Ruth League, Inc. affiliations. Xtreme Fastpitch Softball & the Bambino Buddy Ball programs have since been added as the fourth & fifth divisions in the program.

Since joining Babe Ruth League, SEDBSL has hosted numerous district, state and regional baseball and softball tournaments. They have captured state championships in almost every division: 9-Year Old; 10-Year Old; 11-Year Old & 11/12-Year Old Cal Ripken Baseball; 13-15-Year-Old Baseball; and 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U & 16U Babe Ruth Softball.

Since their meager beginnings in 1967, SEDBL has provided quality baseball and softball (since 1995) to over 20,000 young men and women in the community. The league is proud of the many players who have gone on to play high school, college, and professional baseball, including Tyler Green (; Bruce Egloff () & current pitcher-Kyle Freeland.

SEDBSL’s has had great success, not only measured by winning on the field but also by sending players onto the next level of competition-whether that be high school, college or professionally, but also by developing solid citizen young men and women. This has been due to the hundreds of volunteers-league officers, including 20 League Presidents, numerous Board members, hundreds of head and assistant coaches, field workers, concession stand workers and many other behind the scenes volunteers-who have donated their time and energy to help our young people develop into well rounded citizens. Happy 50th Anniversary Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League!

League Presidents Throughout the Years

2013-2017 Gregg Palmer 1990-1992 Dick Graham 2011-2013 Rob Volkert 1987-1990 Russ Pritchard 2009-2011 Bill Betts 1986-1987 John Kennedy 2006-2009 Mike Lutz 1984-1986 Eugene Blish 2004-2006 Bruce Jones 1983-1984 Herb Lee 2001-2004 Tom Maloney 1981-1983 Jim Casperson 2000-2001 Kris Kostolonsky 1977-1981 Bill Patterson 1996-2000 Gil Henry 1971-1977 Rod Beck 1994-1996 David Hargrove 1970-1971 Robert Scavo 1993-1994 Mary Wood/David Hargrove 1967-1970 Keith Starr 1992-1993 Mary Wood SOUTHEAST DENVER BASEBALL & SOFTBAL LEAGUE HALL of FAME INDUCTEES This year, the Board decided it was time to honor some of those individuals who have significantly contributed to the success of the SEDBSL and create a league Hall of Fame. As part of the League’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, a Hall of Fame Committee was established to accept nominations and select those to be recognized as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class. While there are many who could be recognized and/or nominated, the Committee decided on the following individuals. The Committee determined that those five individuals in the Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame, the founding fathers, and a few of the very early years leaders, whose insight and fortitude to start and get the league going, would automatically be included in the first Hall of Fame Class. Future individuals or teams will be allowed to be nominated and selected every two years, where they will be officially inducted during the leagues spring league wide Opening Ceremonies.

Founders Other Early Year League Leaders Name (Starting & Ending Years) Rod Beck** (1967- Dick Bauer** Bob Scavo* (1968-1974) Al Hall** (1967- Bill Blodgett** Allan Miller* (1967-1995) Bob McDermott* Keith Starr* (1967- Bill Patterson (1971-1984)

*Awarded Posthumously to a family member at the Induction

**Unable to obtain contact information prior to the Induction

1970s (Starting & Ending Years) Larry Brady (1975-1995) David Miller (1979-2013)

1980s (Starting & Ending Years) 2000s (Starting & Ending Years) Stuart Kitashima (1983-1997) Bob Dinegar (2001-2012) David Hargrove (1986-2017) Jeff Clayman (2001-2009) Mary Wood (1988-1995) Mike Lutz (2002-2017) Tammie Craven (1988-1997) Rob Volkert (2003-2013) Vince Yoshioka (1988-2008) Tal Filholm (2003-2010) Mike Wolfe (1989-2005) Bill Betts (2003-2012) Rick Reiter (2005-2012) 1990s (Starting & Ending Years) Lisa Lane Filholm (2005-2010) Mike Rosen (1991-2005) Dawn Stenlund (2006-2017) Tom Maloney (1995-2006) Gregg Palmer (2007-2017) Lila Downing (1995-2017) Dickson Griswold (2007-2011) Jeff Fisher (1996-2007) Andy Monroe (2009-2017) Bruce Jones (1996-2010) Ed Bushel (2009-2017) Rudy Robinson (1996-2017) David Quintana (1997-2010) 2010s (Starting & Ending Years) Susan Yoshioka (1998-2010) Michelle Bushel (2012-2017) Rick Machado (1999-2012)

Selected comments from 2017 Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League Inductees:

“Kids and families lined up in the rain for BBQ and a raffle - Rip it!! - “Every day is Grandparents Day!” - Host families serving corn on the cobb from their neighbor’s Kansas fields - riding tractors - “Have a day kid!” - playing on the Burlington Bees field - “It’s in your wheel house!”- And one amazing, fantastic, flawlessly focused perfect game played in extra innings to the back drop of an Iowa sunset. Heaven. Baseball. Without a doubt, favorite family memories!! ”

Susan Yoshioka (Board Member, League Director, Tournament Director)

“Too many great memories to point out just one. Starting with helping Mike Lutz with the 5 year-olds and hearing his wife Karen (who I did not know was his wife) saying he was being too hard on the boys, numerous celebrations, lining the fields on a quiet Saturday morning with my boys, late night board meetings at Hargrove’s office arguing the merits of competitive versus recreational baseball, hearing Hargrove say “just one more thing” for the tenth time, Lutz saying “just let the kids play ball!”, losing on the last day of an out of town tournament and feeling so bad for the boys and they bring you back to reality by having a great time swimming and laughing in the pool at the hotel, to going back to the fields with my now older boys and reminiscing about the “good old days” of SEDBSL baseball.” Rob Volkert (President, Board Member, League Director, Coach)

“Tearing down the old concession stand with Tal Filholm and our boys! Delta! Limon! Holyoke! …supporting the 13-15-Year-Old All Stars with Steve Gower and Jim Signorile. I appreciate the opportunities I was given to positively impact not only the lives of my kids (Abe & John, who currently umpires in the league), but the hundreds of other kids as well. I will always remember paying older league players for their work umpiring 7 & 8-year-old games; pretty satisfying watching them grow and mature into young men.” Jeff Clayman (Board Member, League Director, Coach, Umpire Coordinator) “I remember reciting the ‘Little League Pledge’ at Holly Hills field standing next to my Father and he said a ‘bad word’ into the microphone. Being there at the beginning, then coming back to coach to coach future players Tyler Green and Bruce Egloff.” Bill Starr, (player and coach)-son of Keith Starr (League Founder, President, Board Member, Coach)

“I sincerely appreciate and have wonderful memories of the time I was fortunate enough to spend being involved with SEDBSL. I am very thankful for all the wonderful people that I met and learned from in the process. I’m especially grateful to the kids who taught me how to coach. After teaching our 9-year old team the unwritten rule that ‘there is no crying in baseball”, one of our players got by a pitch and struggled to first base. After reaching base and with tears swelling in his eyes, he looked up at me (first base coach) and asked, “is it ok to cry now coach?” Tal Filholm (Board Member, League Director, Coach)

“I’m proud to have help start the League’s inaugural girls’ softball program (12 and under) with two teams; I coached the Cubs and Bonnie Hargrove coached the Royals. The most memorable event for me as a dad and coach was the opening day celebration when all the teams are introduced. The ceremony brought forth new hope, new beginnings for the athletes and families. I was always surprised on how competitive our teams were at the state all-star tournament games. With just a week or two of practices, we played well.” Dave Quintana (Assistant Baseball Coach, Softball Coach)

“My best memories are of some the relationships I developed with others involved with SEDBSL such as Bill Blodgett, Rex Peters, Billy Starr, Rick Rouse, Russ Pritchard, Rick Wright, Stuart Kitashima and David Hargrove to name a handful that stand out. Another fond memory that I am proud of is that I started and ran the instructional league at Holly Hills South, which started for 7 year olds and was a Tee-Ball league played on Sundays only. The most difficult duty I undertook for the league was umpiring. There was a game where a particular Dad was giving me such a hard time that I walked around the fence and handed him the face mask and chest protector and said “go ahead, you’re the umpire now. If you think you can do a better job, be my guest”. The guy took my gear and umpired the rest of the game and learned that it’s not that easy. I drove my sons, Matt and Kelan Brady, and their coach, Bill Blodgett, crazy because I would always call them out if they were involved in a close play because I didn’t want to get accused of favoring them. It’s funny to think about it now, but they didn’t think it was very funny at the time.” Larry Brady (Board Member, Umpire, Babe Ruth District Commissioner)

“Watching my three sons play at Holly Hills is my favorite memory, bar none. There was the time as President, I went to the field after a big rain. The field was in fairly good shape. Then I saw ducks paddling in right field-game postponed!” Bruce Jones (President, Board Member, League Director, Coach)

“I remember that my last year (1997) we had 1002 kids involved in the league and that blew my mind. It was only through the hard work of all involved in SEDBSL. I always enjoyed opening day and seeing the excitement on all the faces of the players, especially the younger kids.” Tammie Craven (Board Member, Registrar, Treasurer, Concessions, State HoF Committee)\ About his Dad, Allan (Founder, Board Member, Treasurer, Coach)- “…he served from the start (1967) to the day he died~July 17th, 1995. Best memory of Al would be how he hit infield and practice with one hand. Coached in a state all-star finals the day before he died. Would always make sure the league was financially secure through the years, even if he had to use his own money to pay for things.” On his own memories- “Best memory was coaching with and or against my dad Al Miller. David Miller (Player, Assistant Baseball Coach, Softball Coach, Board Member)

“The “Big Field” at Holly Hills was a magical place for our family. We spent almost every day watching and coaching games. It became a summer home for our entire family. So many great memories that we will never forget. The “Big Field” sets SEDB(S)L apart from any other league in the City.” Mike Rosen (Board Member, League Director, Coach)

“Fundamentals! Fundamentals!, Fundamentals!!!” As a player in the League, I was lucky enough to play for Coaches like Bill Blodgett and Al Miller. They, always, stressed to practice and play the game fundamentally correct. Later, as a coach, other coaches like Joe Paulson, Russ Pritchard and Larry Brady continually stressed that we all teach the fundamentals of the game, when coaching. I learned two things: 1. The players with the best fundamentals, perform the best. 2. Teams that are more fundamentally sound, win more games. My advice: In baseball, as in Life, try to do things that are the most fundamentally correct. Even, if you’re just goofing around. That is because: When situations get tight and the pressure mounts: Players/People are most likely to revert back and do the things they had been constantly doing and practicing. The more often you do things fundamentally sound, the more often you are likely to repeat it!” Stuart Kitashima (Player, Board Member, League Director, Coach)

“…teaching girls to eat sunflower seeds…being recruited by Dave Hargrove to Board...coaching with Bob Kochevar baseball with our sons and softball with our daughters….played the first year of the league; most pleased and appreciative of the honor to have been involved with the league for 50 years.” Mike Wolfe (Player, Board Member, League Director, Baseball & Softball Coach)

“There are so many great memories…but being a host family for visiting players is probably where most of my memories gather. Our very first experience was with a group of 15U baseball players that we were assured weren’t very good and would be out of the tournament in a day…not only were they good, but they went to the tournament championship 5 days later!! What an honor to be their host family for that week. As a family, we looked forward to our summers spent at the ball park, traveling to tournaments, playing against great players and coaches, sharing fun times and making lifelong friends and memories.” Lila Downing (Board Member, League Director, Softball Coach, Softball District Commissioner)

“Memories of SEDBSL center around the kids and the opportunity to have been able to coach and serve as a volunteer for the kids. I have an admiration for all who served in some capacity to make SEDBSL a league whose mission for 50 years has been to provide opportunity for all ages and abilities to play the great game of baseball.” Jeff Fisher (Board Member, Instruction Coordinator, Coach, District Commissioner)

“We're 11's All Stars (2010), and we get to Districts in La Junta, beating our nemesis Fountain Valley, finally, in 103-degree weather, 8-3. Killed them. They'd beaten us bad in All Stars since we were 9. But we're working ourselves out of the loser’s bracket, so we have to play them twice, losing the second game by one . Their Coach is show-boaty, their players are intimidating, and they have a crowd always following them, with set cheers. Verses. Chorus's. They're loud. Gets under our skin. We've never seen anything like it. Nebraska doesn't field a team that year, so Colorado gets to send two to the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament. We're in, going to Lyons, Kansas, playing for a spot in the World Series. We're beat up pretty bad first two games, but we're ahead in our third game against Kansas, by several runs, headed into the last inning. Fountain Valley has the next game on the field, so they've arrived, parents, team and all, sitting behind our dugout. It's so hot and muggy, it's our second game, and the wheels are starting to fall off. Kansas ties the game. We get out of the half-inning, but we're done, spent, our heads hanging. For a fleeting moment we thought we finally had a win in the bag.

Then the chanting starts. Rousing applause for every batter, by name, as he approaches the plate. Verses. Chorus. There's easily seventy people sitting behind our dugout, and Fountain Valley is cheering for us. Loud and enthusiastically. It picks us up. We get guys on base. We hit one in, winning the game. Our nemesis carries us across the finish line. It is the my most cherished moment in Cal Ripken baseball. True sportsmanship. It was bigger than the game.” Rick Reiter (Coach, Fund Raiser)

“I came back from the Navy in 1971 and joined SEDLL immediately, but was not an original. Those guys started the first field over at Schlessman YMCA and we moved it to Holly Hills after that. I came back and coached in the senior league when my boys were old enough to play there. Allan Miller coerced me to come back and be his assistant because he wanted my two boys who were good players and they were protected in the draft! Good, ole, Allan.” Bill Patterson (President, Board Member, Coach)

“Coaching both of my sons through and working with so many dedicated volunteers at SEDB(S)L has provided my family and me a rich treasurer of memories and friendships to last a lifetime.” Bill Betts (President, League Director, Coach)

“My memories (of sticky snow cones, heavy crates of Gatorade, burnt hot dogs, and Big-League Chew bubble gum) always end in happy reveries of Friday nights in June, watching our sons play ball and helping little brothers and sisters ‘run’ the snack shack, feeling part of the community and full of hope and happiness.” Lisa Lane Filholm (Concession Stand Coordinator) “Not sure I can pinpoint only one memory that stands out above the rest; there are too many to choose from. SEDBSL has been “home” for my family for many, many summers. I hope everyone has the same opportunity that our family has had in this league to see/play some great baseball, make many friends and have a lot of fun.” Dawn Stenlund (Board Member, League Director, Concessions)

“On opening day each year, the sight of the youngest players running with their new team and coaches has always brought a big grin and a little tear.”

Bob Dinegar (Board Member, League Director, State HoF Committee, District Commissioner)

“My favorite memory was of managing our 10-year old all-star team in 2001. The resilience of the boys was unmatched. We lost our first state tournament game to Fountain Valley, and then proceeded to win 6 games beating Lamar twice to win the state championship. I still have the game ball from the championship game win and a photo of the team in a pile at the pitcher’s mound afterward. My favorite accomplishment was coordinating and hosting a 13-year old state tournament with all games played at the Bishop Machebeuf high school field, a premier facility in the state that has continued to host high school 4A, and 5A regional and state tournament games. I am proud to have served with many of the pillars of the SEDBSL family: Dave Hargrove, Karen and Jim Nogami, Mike Rosen, Gil Henry, Bruce Jones, Tom Maloney, Jeff Fisher, Mark Hoskin, Rick Scheuber, Jolene Bogue, Dr. John Schwappach, and Mike and Karen Lutz to name a few. I am humbled and honored to be considered a part of this inaugural class.” Rick Machado (Board Member, Treasurer, Registrar, Coach, Tournament Director)

“Best personal memories involve advancing along the various Cal Ripken state and regional tournament trails…last experiences in the mostly gracious small towns and ultimately advancing to the Cal Ripken World Series in 2014 after setting the goal with a group of committed parents and players while overcoming a few obstacles along the way. Good memories for me and our family and hopefully meaningful for the players as they continue in their baseball careers. I appreciate the relationships developed and the help of others in developing quality players and kids and the continuing life lessons learned for both myself and my son from the game of baseball.” Andy Monroe (Board Member, Field Permits, Equipment, Uniforms, Awards, League Director, Coach)

“My Dad was the key individual responsible for installing the ballfield fencing at Holly Hills.” Mark Scavo, (player)-son of Bob Scavo (Board Member, Umpire)

“Some of my greatest memories of Southeast occurred when games were not in play. Working to get the fields ready for Opening Day with Tal Filholm & Mike Lutz, an impromptu birthday celebration held on the deck after a game, happily working the snack shack, or all of us pitching in to make improvements to Holly Hills. But the simple satisfaction of watching young players improve, or enjoying a game on a summer night was hard to beat!” Dickson Griswold (Board Member, Field Maintenance, Coach)

“The greatest memories are the people I have met as being part of the league. As a coach and Board member, I have enjoyed every moment.” Mike Lutz (President, Board Member, League Director, Field Maintenance, Umpire Coordinator, Registrar, Treasurer, Scheduler, Instructor, Coach, Tournament Director)

“As I reflect on the remarkable achievements as individuals and teams of each of the wonderful boys and girls I coached, I can only say how proud I am to have been a small part of your success on the ball field and hopefully life. Each of you improved as individuals and came together as teams to play some incredible baseball. I, too, learned as a coach because of every player, parent and umpire that was a part of the league. You should truly take pride in having played SEDBSL. Be sure to say, “thank you” to your parents for allowing you to experience it as it should be memories you cherish. I thank you for the respect each of you showed me and the other coaches. SEDBSL is an experience I will never forget….enjoyed every moment.” Tom Maloney (President, Board Member, Coach)

“I’m proud of being able to help the local and state program grow so that the players and parents had great opportunities…..heading up the first SE Denver hosted invitational tournament for 12 year olds in 1989 and first SE Denver hosted Midwest Plains Regional Tournament for 13 year olds in 1992…lots of great memories. I enjoyed extending my work at the Colorado State Babe Ruth level as co-chair of first Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame celebration in 1996; assistant 12-year-old State Commissioner and first State Commissioner for 10- year-old division.” Mary Wood (President, Board Member, League Director, Tournament Direct, State HoF Organizer)

“Over the twenty years I spent with SEDBSL I have so many wonderful memories. The one that will always stick with me is winning the 11-12 year old end of season championship, Red Sox over the Dodgers in extra innings (7-6). Seeing a team with such a wide range in talent working together as a ‘team’ to accomplish a goal is what youth sports is all about. In part, a tribute to our assistant coach that year for all his help and dedication, the late Mr. Richard Kulwicki.” Vince Yoshioka (Board Member, Coach)

Let us know of any corrections to the information included in this program. Everyone is invited and encouraged to provide additional contributions, including photos, to the league as part of the league’s ongoing history. This information will be posted on the Alumni page of the website. All involved with the league can be proud of their efforts and accomplishments for a volunteer organization to be viable for 50 years! Let’s work toward another fifty years.

2017 Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League Board and Officials President: Gregg Palmer League Directors (continued): Vice President: Jason Hirsh 11/12 Baseball Jason Hirsh/Aaron Evans Secretary: Chris Sheehan Baseball Tournament Teams Ed Bushel/ Michael Prentiss Treasurer: Mike Lutz Softball-All Ages Franco Santos/Bobby Macias Registrar: Gregg Palmer Field Maintenance: Mike Lutz Concessions: Dawn Stenlund Equipment/Uniforms/Field Permits: Andy Monroe League Directors: Webmaster: Gregg Palmer 5/6-Year Old Baseball Ed Bushel/Chris Sheehan Scheduler: Michelle Bushel 7-Year Old Baseball Jason Myslik/Mike Lutz Baseball Umpire-in-Chief: Rudy Robinson 8-Year Old Baseball Russell Nordstrom/John Wild Softball Umpire-in-Chief: Jeff Wood 9-Year Old Baseball Peter Padalino/Ricardo Martinez District 3 Commissioner: Bob Dinegar 10-Year Old Baseball Craig Mowers/Chris Davis At Large Members: David Hargrove, Ed Kennedy, Ben Robinson

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Supporters

BABE RUTH LEAGUE,INC.

Visit the Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League website at: http://www.sedenverbaseball.com/