Retired coach raises funds for baseball across Oregon

LA GRANDE, Oregon – Howard Fetz, former Eastern Oregon University head baseball coach and associate professor of English, has a passion for America’s favorite pastime and he is putting that passion to work.

 

Fetz and others have established “America’s Game,” a non-profit organization to fund baseball programs in Oregon. The volunteer board of directors has identified EOU’s recently cut baseball program as one they wish to support. 

 

“We feel that baseball is such an important part of our history and tradition,” said Fetz, of Estacada. “We want to do everything we can to ensure that future students will have the same opportunities enjoyed by student athletes in the past.”

 

The EOU baseball program was eliminated from the University’s intercollegiate sports roster in April 2006 as part a campus-wide effort to reduce expenditures by two-percent. Additional reductions from the Student Fee Allocation also affected the number of sports that could be funded. Prior to the cuts, EOU sponsored 14 athletic programs – more than any other Oregon University System institution, with the exception of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon – despite having fewer fee-paying students.

 

While the University, the EOU Foundation, and the EOU Booster Club already have established fundraising priorities that do not include the “America’s Game” initiative, there is still appreciation for the organization’s effort.

 

“The Booster Club is committed to raising dollars for athletic aid to support the existing 10 athletic programs,” said Craig Braseth, Booster Club president. “We appreciate the ‘America’s Game’ organization and directors’ enthusiasm for baseball and wish them well.”

 

To help “America’s Game” get off the ground, the Foundation has agreed to sponsor a room for the group at the upcoming Homecoming celebration as part of a previously planned baseball reunion. Fetz will host a meeting for alumni who are interested in raising funds for various baseball programs.

 

“We are not currently raising money for baseball because our students have so many other needs,” said Lyle Schwarz, Foundation president. “But, even though we are separate organizations with different priorities, there are some ways we can work together.” 

 

The EOU Foundation is currently engaged in the “Ignite the Future” campaign, launched in May. The fundraising effort is the Foundation’s most ambitious operation, with a goal of raising $2 million.

 

“The Foundation is proud of how much passion our alumni and Dr. Fetz have for EOU,” said Schwarz. “They have the drive and energy to be very successful.”

 

For more information about “America’s Game” contact Fetz at (503) 834-3012 or by e-mail at fetzh@estacada.k12.or.us. For a complete schedule of events at Homecoming 2006 visit www.eou.edu/alumni/homecoming.

 

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