Special recognition for Coach Lou Beeler

Text of Pregame Ceremony

Tonight we'd like to welcome coach Lou Beeler's family to Warrior field.  Joining us this evening are:

• Lou's wife - Sandy

• Son Jeff, his wife Julie and children Lucas and Bryce

• Son Jamie, his wife Lydia

• Son, Joey and his family were unable to be here tonight

• Lou's dad, Calvin Beeler, and

• Lou's brother, David and his daughter Macenzie

We are so pleased to have you here.

This past December we lost one of Western's finest.  Lou was not only an outstanding coach , but one of the schools biggest and best supporters.  He joined Coach Hudgins staff as an assistant in 1987 and held that post for 23 years.  During that time, he worked with hundreds of young men, making them not only better baseball players but more importantly, better people.  Three of those young men were his  sons, Jeff, Joey and Jamie, who all played for the Warriors in the mid 90s.

 We were all blessed to have Lou with us during those 23 years.  His impact on our program is far reaching and never ending.  Tonight as a special tribute to Lou, we will leave the 1st base coaching box , where he spent many hours, open during the 1st inning.

To Sandy, his wonderful wife, we'd like to express our sincere appreciation.  Thank you for sharing Lou with us for all those years.  As a token of our gratitude we'd like to present you with this special gift.  Coach Hudgins will do the honors.

On behalf of Warrior baseball players, coaches and fans both past and present we'd like to present to you Coach Lou Beeler's jersey #10.

Thanks to the Beeler family for coming out tonight.  May God bless you and keep you.

Pictures from the Ceremony

June 7, 2006 -Celebrating 20+ years of contribution from coach beeler

Over 70 current and former players and coaches, parents, and friends gathered to recognize Coach Lou Beeler for his 20+ years of coaching baseball at Western Albemarle High School.  The program involved tributes from Coach Freeland (including a slide show of pictures over Coach Beeler's career), Steve Heon (WAHS Athletic Director), Ann Coughlin (WAHS Principal), and Coach Hudgins.  Former coaches and players in attendance included Darren Maynard, Jason Barnett, George Thurston, Jason Beale, Jamie and Jeff Beeler, Jeremy Clark, Joe Clark, Philip Haas, Ryan DeRose, Richard Hunt, Bryan Lescanec, Kyle Long, Eric Morris, Andy Pierce, Martin Powley, Justin Sullivan, and Will Wolanski.