There were plenty of kind words and pats on the back before the Lakers’ game last Sunday as the team honored a list of local luminaries who have played a part in the success of the team over the years.
Fans of the Century
John Fobbe, a member of the town team in 1926 and a player, manager and fan since then, was characterized by Coach Gary Porter as “a living source of baseball stories and memorabilia.”
Ray Muller was noted for his service in the Navy as one of the builders of the Alaskan-Canadian Highway and his unwavering support for local sports over the years.
Ed Raiche played centerfield for the Lakers from 1945 to 1947 and when the Lakers hosted the 1984 State Tourney, Ed raised over $10,000 in advertisements.
Bill Porter was there every time his son, Gary, threw, hit or chased a baseball, including years as a Lakers fan. “William Sr. epitomizes the importance of parental guidance and support during the formative years of young ballplayers,” said Coach Porter.
Groundskeepers of the Century
Porter told of the untiring efforts of Bill Cruikshank and Ken Hennen in 1984 and again in 1997 when Maple Lake hosted state tourneys. “As you sit here today, these fine surroundings can be attributed to Kenny Hennen and Bill Cruikshank,” Porter said.
Volunteers of the Decades
Joe Stumpf was there when the present day Lakers were resurrected in 1975 and still helps out at the ticket booth. “Joe has one of those behind-the-scenes jobs whereby those countless hours of volunteering are unnoticed. We are here today to rectify that and make sure his efforts are acknowledged,” Porter said.
Earl Pettis is also part of the ticket-taking team and Porter characterized him as “The commissioner of Maple Lake athletics,” noting his support of high school teams. “If you ever need advice or someone to put a smile on your face, just look up Earl,” Porter said.
Most Valuable Player of the Decades
Porter called Dale Decker “the pillar by which the Lakers built an extremely competitive team in the ‘70s, ’80s and ’90s,” noting Decker’s team-leading efforts in almost every statistical category. “And every year, he led the team in the category of competitive spirit by being one of the fiercest ballplayers I have had the pleasure to be a teammate with.”
Most Loyal and Dedicated Laker of the Decades
Todd DesMarais has been a member of the Lakers for 25 years and Porter said he has been the Laker’s go-to guy. “I cannot begin to tell you the amount of times this man has been called upon to throw in a crucial game in league play, during the playoffs, or at the state tournament,” Porter said.
Coach of the Decades
The last award was a surprise, announced by the coach’s son, Bill, at the end of the program.
Bill recalled how his dad started playing town ball in Chaska, but decided he’d rather get involved at home and resurrected the Lakers in 1975. The Lakers started out strong in their first season, winning the first game, but losing the rest for a 1-22 record. However, as the years went by, the team improved, earning championships along the way.
Bill said there was a time when his dad was coaching Pee Wees, Midgets, Legion, Irish and Laker baseball and would spend six to seven days a week at local ball parks, with the understanding and patience of his wife, Sandra.
“For some of us, he’s been the only baseball coach we’ve ever had,” Bill said. And the modern-day Lakers could say the same.
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