 |
 |
 |
||
|
||||
|
May 06, 2009
A LAST HURRAH Poteete returns to the diamond
By DON McDERMOTT
In early May ... "or maybe it was in late April 1986" ... Rod Poteete coached his last baseball game for the Pahrump Valley High School team. Last Friday, Poteete returned to the PVHS diamond and threw out the first pitch, prior to the Trojans' Sunset Region Class 4-A Southwest Division game against Las Vegas Desert Oasis. Poteete, a charter member of the PVHS Athletics Hall of Fame, is retiring at the end of this school year -- his 35th in the Nye County School District. "I could do some substitute teaching, but right now, there are other things I want to do," said Poteete, as he stood among former players and friends. He received a plaque from the school, thanking him for his many contributions as a coach and teacher. Poteete was the head baseball coach for 12 years (1975-1986), during which time the Trojans were consistently among the best Class A and 2-A teams in Nevada. The Trojans were 153-82 in all games, including an 80-34 record against league opponents. The original PVHS baseball diamond was on the property where the new building was constructed in 1991. Early on, the Trojans did not have a home field, often playing at what is now Petrack Park. Still, the Trojans won league championships in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985, as well as finishing second in 1977, 1982, 1984 and 1986. The '79, '81 and '83 teams were second in state tournaments. From 1981 through 1986, PVHS was 99-39, including going 68-27 against primarily 2-A opponents. The Trojans returned to Class A in 1986, Poteete's final year as coach. Poteete was also an assistant coach in basketball, but one of his most important contributions was his involvement in recording the history of PVHS athletics in the early years. His collection of memorabilia and photographs is priceless in that regard. |
|
