Though clouds rolled in and the sky was a bit gray, the raindrops stayed away.
And that was just what the crowd wanted, as they arrived on the Escalon High School campus for an afternoon of celebration and remembrance.
The Escalon Cougars varsity baseball team had their home opener on Feb. 11, hosting Liberty Ranch. The game, though, really took a backseat to all the fanfare, as the new Cougar home field was dedicated, a ribbon cutting ceremony and first pitch were staged, and the No. 9 jersey of the late Greg Largent was retired.
“When we first set out to get a new field, we had to work pretty fast, to get ready for the 2025 season,” said field renovation program coordinator Steve Riesenbeck. “We set out to raise, we called it 100K in 100 days; that was our goal. To some, it seemed like a crazy feat but I knew if there was anywhere it could be done, it was here, in this little small town that we call Escalon.”
He said the project was dubbed “The Revival” and the leadership team spearheading the renovation effort went out seeking support.
After years of great teams and winning seasons, Riesenbeck said it was time for the field to get a facelift, a renovation, a ‘revival’ for the next generation of teams to play on it, the coaches to coach and the spectators to watch and enjoy the games.
“Baseball is a game of class; it has a way of capturing the respect of its community,” said Riesenbeck.
He said donors contributing to the project were very willing to give and several were on hand for the ceremony to accept special thanks and plaques presented by the baseball program. Banners indicating their support are also placed around the field, on the outfield fences.
“It’s because of these great community members and supporters that our baseball team has a new Cougar home field to play on,” Riesenbeck said.
He added that what meant the most to him, as he went out to seek initial donations for the revival, was that while he had a power point presentation lined up and ready to go, he mentioned that it was “for the kids” and that’s all donors needed to hear … they were on board.
There were also some fundraisers along the way but most of the revival funding came from donors and in-kind services.
Along with the formal dedication of the newly revived field, the afternoon included the retirement of jersey No. 9, worn for many years by the late Greg Largent, who passed away in September of 2022.
A teacher at El Portal and a longtime coach for multiple sports, Largent spent years at the helm of the varsity baseball program, taking over when former coach Bob Loureiro retired from the post.
Stepping up to the microphone, Greg’s son Steve, now a teacher and coach with the Escalon Unified School District, offered his thanks to Riesenbeck for his coordination of the effort and the donors that helped support the revival.
“I know you guys are not looking for the ‘thank you’s’ but I’d be a fool if I didn’t take a second out to extend extreme amounts of gratitude to everybody,” said Largent.
He also said he knew his dad – No. 9 – would want to give credit “to all the people who helped him achieve this great honor” – including his family, his mentors such as coach Bob Loureiro, district officials, friends, baseball coaching staff, Cougar baseball fans and more.
“The list of supporters goes on and on and I’m sure I’m missing a few of you but so many community members made this run of coach Largent so special he would thank you all,” Largent said.
He said his dad’s love of baseball started when he was young and was something he passed down to his sons Steve and Nick, as well as his four grandsons.
He took over as varsity head baseball coach in 2005 and, during his 17-year tenure, the Cougars won 10 Trans-Valley League titles, three Section titles, and two state championships. But it was in 2019, when Greg Largent was named a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Model Coach award winner, that he pointed to it as his greatest accomplishment.
“It wasn’t the championships, it wasn’t the tournament wins, or the playoff runs that dad hung his hat on,” Largent said. “He took pride in doing things the right way, in treating opposing players, teams, coaches and parents with respect and always having his field in the best condition. In return, dad knew the baseball gods would take care of everything else.”
Following his remarks, Largent and Riesenbeck unveiled the number 9, which is now officially retired.
“Thank you to everybody who made this happen, thank you to everybody who came out here today,” Largent said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The ribbon cutting for the new field – with Greg’s wife Cindy Largent and Bob Loureiro wielding the scissors – followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Cortney Ball led to the ceremonial first pitch. Bob Loureiro tossed it in to current varsity baseball coach Gino Franceschetti, himself a former player for coach Largent.
Then the baseball team took the field and earned a 3-0 shutout over Liberty Ranch, with starting pitcher Josh Fiori allowing no hits, striking out 11 and walking three in four-plus innings of work. Fiori is a four-year varsity starter; Largent was his coach during his first season.
“It was an awesome day; it was nice watching it all play out, with the donors to retiring Greg’s number, it was just an amazing day,” said coach Franceschetti. “Listening to Steve Largent talk about his dad was very emotional for me personally. His words couldn’t have been more true. It makes you realize how important it is to stay in the moment and appreciate every day you have here.”
