VETERAN 12-year olds representing The Dalles Little League, Sherman, Dufur, Arlington, Condon and Ione gather around the pitcher’s mound for opening ceremonies Saturday at Kramer Field in The Dalles. More than 360 athletes across five age divisions will play games at Kramer this spring.
DEAN DOLLARHIDE, a 1985 The Dalles High School graduate and former all-league pitcher, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Kramer Field in The Dalles while majors players Trenton Schacher (left) and Caleb Nelson look on.
VETERAN 12-year olds representing The Dalles Little League, Sherman, Dufur, Arlington, Condon and Ione gather around the pitcher’s mound for opening ceremonies Saturday at Kramer Field in The Dalles. More than 360 athletes across five age divisions will play games at Kramer this spring.
Ray Rodriguez
DEAN DOLLARHIDE, a 1985 The Dalles High School graduate and former all-league pitcher, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Kramer Field in The Dalles while majors players Trenton Schacher (left) and Caleb Nelson look on.
With a packed crowd of friends, family and community members at Kramer Field, public address announcer and The Dalles Little League vice president Curt Harth uttered words of congratulations and gratitude for the years of selfless volunteerism for 1985 The Dalles High School graduate and former all-league pitcher and coach, Dean Dollarhide.
Dollarhide waved to the crowd and shook hands with several players in his moment of glory just before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to catcher Ben Schanno.
“That was a huge honor. I was shaking out there actually. All of the kids out there were telling me, ‘throw a curveball, throw a curveball,’” Dollarhide said with a laugh. “I was shocked. I had no idea. It was a huge honor and I really appreciate it. I love helping the kids. I love helping the pitchers. That was a really nice thing to have happen.”
The plan to name Dollarhide was kept under wraps and TDLL members maintained communication with Dollarhide’s wife, Michelle, throughout the process.
It was an easy choice to name coach Dollarhide.
“He is an absolute joy to be around. He loves baseball,” said Little League coaching coordinator John Schacher. “His passion is infectious. Anybody that has been around Dean understands that he is in it for the kids. He is a great supporter of our community. He was a very easy choice. Thank you very much Mister Dollarhide.”
During the offseason, TDLL president Angela Schacher and the board members have invested money into the beautification of Kramer Field with an extra emphasis on the fields, concession stands and restrooms.
Sergio’s Construction remodeled the concession stands and re-did the bathrooms and Brown Roofing put on a new roof to help in the process.
Kramer Field will host the District 5 All Stars tournament in late June and John Schacher said there are plans to combine that with a Fourth of July celebration and possibly semi-annual event.
“Little league is about community and supporting each other and making friends,” John Schacher said. “These memories last a lifetime. That is what we are hoping for here. Not solely to make good baseball players, but to make good citizens.”
This year, The Dalles Little League has 362 players, 46 Majors, 75 Minors, 52 Rookie, 83 Coach Pitch and 106 T-ball, a number on par with the last few years.
In addition, teams from Sherman, Goldendale, Wash. and a cooperative baseball team comprised of players from Arlington, Fossil, Condon, Dufur and Ione will play games at Kramer field through the spring and early summer.
Games are played on weekdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday’s starting at 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. from April until mid-June when minors and majors will vie for a city championship.
All of the preparation and planning is for the most important part of bringing joy to the game for these young athletes.
“You see the joy on the kids’ faces. It is something that takes you back to the times you were playing ball too,” John Schacher said. “On a day like this, the sun is out, the grass is green and there is no better way to say, ‘let’s play some ball.’”
For information on schedules, changes, fundraiser events, scores and standings log on to www.eteamz.com/tdll.
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