There are several people who have helped me along in life - but on the short list is Ed Knaggs. Coach Knaggs was my high school coach, eventually my coaching peer, and my friend. He joined the John Burroughs Indians after Coach Haney left and inspired us to be the best. During our run we reached State regionals, had dynamic starting pitching and offense and ran our high school program like we were a college. He used his connections to get scouts to our games and ultimately helped me to get a scholarship at Loyola Marymount. When that did not work out, he went to bat for me at Gonzaga and brought me to Washington. In the summers, I coached with him in Wenatchee, WA. We travelled around in a big non-airconditioned bus (he made me get a commercial license), I was at the field from daybreak to midnight and earned my keep mowing the fields, pitching batting practice and coaching first base. We spent three summers together in Wenatchee and there were many memories. Time and distance has separated us, but I would not have had the options I had were it not for Coach Knaggs.
In this shot, we are preparing for a rowboat trip out on Lake Wenatchee during a rare day off. Judging by the looks of that boat, we're braver than we thought. We're sporting our sandals and socks - (my friends at PEMCO would be proud,
just watch).
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