Coaching big benefit to young Dogs
From left to right, Gabe, Randy and Sam Boruff are all coaches for the Senior River Dogs who will play in the Babe Ruth Senior World Series this year.<br>David Smithburg/Columbia Basin Herald
Randy Boruff leads River Dogs since 1994
EPHRATA — A good coaching staff brings experience, confidence and knowledge to a baseball team. The Senior River Dogs have such a coaching staff with Chuck Hansen, Bryan Johnson and Randy, Sam and Gabe Boruff.
Randy Boruff has coached the Senior River Dogs since their inception in 1994. He started coaching when he was 22-years-old and has done it off-and-on ever since. He describes his area of expertise as providing motivational leadership and accountability.
This is the first time he has had five coaches on staff.
"None of the coaches have gotten in each others way this year," Randy said
He recognizes each coaches role and lets them do their work with little or no interruption.
"Really the key to success has been coaching for these kids," Randy said. "Particularly Gabe and Bryan who came from professional baseball."
The season started with just three coaches. Randy said when he had an opportunity to add Johnson to the staff he knew it was a quality pick-up and jumped at the chance. Johnson had just finished coaching baseball in Spokane with Shadle Park high school.
He helps with the infield, hitting and a little pitching.
"He just brings a lot of good information," Randy said.
Gabe used to play at Ephrata high school and in 1998 played on the team that won the state title. He was drafted by Lewis and Clark State and played under Ed Cheff. Gabe played two years of professional baseball and Randy describes him as a student of the game who just soaks up information like a sponge.
"He knows the game and demands the players play hard," Randy said.
Sam has spent five years coaching the Senior River Dogs. He says he has matured a lot as a coach, especially in the past two years.
"Five years ago I was trying to be best friends with the players," Sam said. "I think I have changed in the last two years being around Gabe and Bryan."
Sam provides the mental coaching for the players. He believes baseball comes second and just wants the players to become better people.
Both Sam and Bryan know how to win. Each played on two Ephrata state championship teams, 1998 and 1999.
Hansen has coached with Randy for the past five years. In 2000, with 24 hours notice, Hansen put together a Junior River Dogs team that finished second place in the regional tournament that year.
"If you go to war you want him on your side," Randy said.
Randy has coached the River Dogs to unprecedented success since 1994. He deflects praise to what he calls the extraordinary amount of talent the Columbia Basin has produced in those years.