A Farewell to our Baseball Hiro

By Coach Bill Wilmer (L55)

It was a sunny afternoon as Hiro Noguchi (U65) walked up and planted himself squarely in the box as the team’s lead-off batter, cocked his bat, and gazed straight at the pitcher, waiting to make a hit and get safely on base. The pitcher leaned forward and reared back to deliver a fastball that screamed toward Hiro, who was ready and swung, smashing the pitch through the infield and out into left center, running fast along the grass, chased by the left fielder, who caught it and threw it toward second base. But not in time.

Hiro had, once again, started the club’s movement toward another win.

It did seem to me, the coach, that Hiro always got us started fast with his hitting and running skills, and then off we would go to win the game. I say, “Win the game,” because we did win

— every game that season — with Hiro’s help and the determination and skill of every other team member. Hiro was the perfect lead-off batter and the perfect image of that team. He almost always hit and got on base; every other hitter was encouraged to do the same and usually did.

Hiro was a bright guy who loved baseball and being the catcher. He delighted in calling the pitches fired over the plate and throwing out a batter at second base. Hiro’s attention to the game never varied and was always serious and full of his desire to participate. He was so easy to coach, as was the entire team.

Hiro also helped us prepare the field back then, when we ran the old weapons carrier truck pulling a metal scraper behind it over the grass of the soccer field and scraped out an infield.

The guys stood on the scraper, holding a rope and stayed anchored there as I drove around many times during the late afternoon into the early dusk.

The game we played that sunny afternoon was against Thacher. We crushed the Toads’ long record of undefeated innings and games. Hiro was very proud, as were all the players. It was our toughest game and nothing after that could stop us from winning.

With his passing, we look around and see that others on the team have also passed. The coach is now 80. But no matter how long we wait to reflect back on the team’s accomplishments, Hiro will always stand tall as the leadoff batter and dynamic catcher of that team.

Hiro, you were our hero. May you rest in peace.