Moses Lake coach McNamara dies

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake High School baseball coach Ed McNamara

passed away at the age of 51 Saturday morning.

McNamara was heading to a game at Larson Field, when he told

people he was not feeling well, according to Moses Lake High School

athletic director Loren Sandhop. McNamara drove himself to

Samaritan Hospital.

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake High School baseball coach Ed McNamara passed away at the age of 51 Saturday morning.

McNamara was heading to a game at Larson Field, when he told people he was not feeling well, according to Moses Lake High School athletic director Loren Sandhop. McNamara drove himself to Samaritan Hospital.

Shortly after McNamara was admitted, he died.

"It's with a deep sadness that I share the bad news of us losing our head baseball coach," Sandhop stated. "Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers."

Both Price and Sandhop said they believe McNamara's passing occurred at approximately 10 a.m.

"We were told he had fluid buildup in the lungs that was caused by his ongoing heart issues," said Michelle Price, Moses Lake School District superintendent.

McNamara was the baseball head coach since 2004 and worked as a production manager at Just Right Cleaning & Construction, a fire and water restoration company in Moses Lake.

McNamara played baseball and was named All-State. He graduated from Ephrata High School in 1978, where he played and helped win the school's first state title under legendary coach Dave Johnson.

He attended the University of Washington, following two years at Edmonds Community College. He played baseball for the Huskies and was named All Pac-10.

He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals and played in their farm clubs for two years.

"As word got around the Big 9 about Ed (passing), we were flooded with phone calls, text messages and emails about the respect he had around the league," Sandhop said. "They cared about him and really thought well of him as a person."

Five hours after hearing about their coach's death, the Moses Lake Chiefs decided as a team to play their afternoon game against Graham-Kapowsin. The Chiefs won 10-0 behind a one-hitter by Mitch Yada, according to Sandhop.

Quintz Whitaker was named interim head baseball coach for the Chiefs.

Ed McNamara is survived by his wife Shawnee and their five sons, Josiah, Taylor, Stefan, Braeley and Spencer.

The Columbia Basin Herald is working on a more informative profile of McNamara to be printed soon.

- Managing editor Bill Stevenson