Bountiful softball coach retires after 50 years on the sector

BOUNTIFUL — Whereas the season is winding down for the Bountiful Excessive Faculty ladies softball staff, it’s positively the tip of an period at this sport towards Roy.

Coach Butch Latey is teaching his final sport after greater than 50 years.

“I simply say softball is a lesson in life,” Latey stated.

Really, softball has been his life. He is coached 4 generations of gamers.

His early video games in Utah concerned taking part in semi-pro softball on a staff with Larry H. Miller. That sparked a lifelong friendship between the households. Philanthropist Gail Miller attended his retirement sport and paid tribute to his dedication of shaping the lives of younger ladies athletes.

“You’ve got launched many a younger girl on a profession to a lifetime of good,” Miller stated. “The legacy you permit is absolutely exceptional and you need to be very, very proud.”

Faculty leaders honored the coach on Bountiful Excessive’s Butch Latey Area and browse Gov. Spencer Cox’s proclamation of “Butch Latey Day” in Utah. Then it was time to “play ball!”

Gamers and fogeys have been there to cheer the staff and Latey.

“He was my batting coach in fourth grade,” assistant coach Katie Tanner stated. “He helped me get to school. I performed collegiately, and he checked on me each week.” Now she helps coach the staff.

“I began being coached by Butch after I was 12,” Tanna Alvey-Jensen stated. Now, her two daughters play on the staff.

Alvey-Jensen acquired emotional when speaking about what Latey has meant to her household.

“He’s there for us in a method that generally our dad and mom cannot be,” she stated. “And it adjustments lives.”

Listening to that type of suggestions is what has stored Latey on the sector all these years. “I’ve had lots of them come again and say, ‘If we did not do that, if we did not try this.’ It has been enjoyable. That is the perfect half,” Latey stated.

Throughout the dugouts, quick quotes are hung which might be the gamers’ favorites from their coach. He is identified for these quips.

“I feel the perfect one I like is, ‘Everyone serving to everyone,’ Tanner stated.

“The most effective factor you might hear from Butch was, ‘Good job, babe,” Alvey stated.

So in a remaining tribute, she despatched it proper again. “Good job, babe,” she stated.

The Bountiful Redhawks and Latey gained their remaining sport collectively.