Weaverville 4th of July tourney is alive and kicking! Memorial for Perry Price!

Robin and I hosted this tournament for many years. I encouraged the softballers in Weaverville to take it over and it has been in a yearly transition. This year they are going full blast and are honoring Perry Price who helped me host this tournament. We also played in it many times with James Hill Trucking. Hope this turns out to be a success and everyone has fun!

 

Believe it or not, there were about 50 eating places that were union in Humboldt County in 1976!

 I was going through some of my old newspapers and ran across the Redwood Empire Labor Journal for November 11, 1976 and found this plead to Patronize these eating establishments. I was working at Bazar at the time and was a retail clerk and belonged to the union! I was part of the International Wood Workers in the late 70's and then Part of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 49 from 1980 until the Pulp Mill closed. Shocking there is now under 10% union participation even though over 71% of workers polled approve of unions!

Psst! I moved from Humboldt.

Been a few months now, but Robin and I have settled into Citrus Heights. I am still working remotely, so I am still working for the Construction Industry Force Account Council. I am actually playing softball down here and play for the Ravens in Sacramento and New Dawn Awning in Placer County. I am no longer President of any softball leagues and I am not currently an elected official in any capacity. Not to say i might not in the future. I do miss Humboldt and all of my friends there, but I am meeting all sorts of new people here. Just thought I would update. 

Random Draw for Election Candidates for 2022 gives 5% head start to Bergel, Doss and Karen Paz Dominguez

Some don't know this, but a random draw by the California Secretary of State determines candidates placement on the ballot. This was very important in past close elections. So who has the head start this year? In the 4th District Supervisor race, Kim Bergel will be first, Natalie Arroyo second and Mike Newman 3rd. In the 5th District, Larry Doss has the jump on Steve Madrone by being placed 1st. In the A/C race Karen Paz Dominguez will be 1st if Evans is off the ballot with Carol Dillingham number 2. 

 

RIP Perry Price. A Softball interview.

 Here is a video of an interview I did with Perry Price at the 1989 USSSA Championships. 64 teams gathered that had made it through qualifying rounds to be the best of the best. We had Jimmy Rodgers (RF), Doug Weatherbee 3B, Barry Oliver RCF, Otis Kane 1st, Jeff Tehan LCF, Ronnie Webb LF, Roland West C, Mike SS, Bob Sprague 2B and yours truly pitching. Perry maneuvered us through constant banter. We ended up in 3rd place in the state with Ronnie Webb and Roland West making the all state team. We still are the highest placing team from Humboldt in a USSSA state championship. 

Perry was more than a friend to me, he was a mentor on many facets of life. He was passionate in his beliefs and never sugarcoated anything. He was a purchasing agent for the City of Eureka and was able to help me understand City agency workings and how politics work hands on. Had many memorable times hanging out in Redding, Grants Pass, Medford, Sacramento and Reno. Robin and I hung out with Perry and Linda clubbing and going to shows.  

Perry also found obscure softball tournaments for James Hill to play in. Columbus Tournament in Reno, Los Molinas Invitational, Central Valley Tournament and Sacramento Tournaments. Perry also was the only manager who did not care who we played first game. He figured we had to beat them sometime! (That didn't go so good one time where we were matched up with Team Demarini!) We won at every level. Even when we were all older and in our last year as James Hill we won the Eureka A league over Latner's to close out a great run. We then won the last big Grants Pass end of the year tournament before it morphed into something else. 

And memories? How about a brawl at Red Bluff Cowboy tournament? Perry had this great idea of us coaching a 3rd grade Hoopster team with his son Brandon and my son Jacob playing together? Perry scared the heck out of the other kids by yelling at Jake and Brandon calling them Knuckleheads. One of the kids I see from that team say they were traumatized and never played again. In the playoffs we were playing Eureka Parks and Recreation Director Dan Molter's team and Perry lost it and was yelling at Laurie Vance, a ref that I actually trained. She gave Perry a technical and when he wouldn't shut up, she called the game. Laurie's boyfriend came down from the stands to let Perry know he was not happy. Perry was ready to go fists........with Jr Albers! I was able to help try to calm things down, but it left everyone at Jacob's Gym something to remember! And there was time he dissed Lester Hayes of the Raiders, was able to score VP passes for Reno Show with all the perks, caused riot at Pop Warner game and the many times he organized BBQ for teams on the road. 

A few years ago he had some type of brain trauma that he ended up recovering from. I went and visited him at rehab home. He recovered and it was like he was new again! This gave him a few more years. But another brain issue finally took him to that great big diamond in the sky.  

Samoasoftball receives Certificate of Special Recognition from U.S. House of Representatives.

 How fortunate am I to live in such a great county. Thank you Jared Huffman for the award! Also congratulations to Jean Caldwell and Ciara Emery for their recognition. This is as good as a buffet with unlimited shrimp and ribs! 

Hey you ! Old Timer! Winter Softball Practice.

I was requested to use the Samoasoftball blog to announce that there is Senior Softball practice and scrimmages at Samoa Field by Cookhouse on Saturdays at 12pm. Unless there is deluge. This will be ongoing all winter.