Frankford’s season
comes to a close

By Joe Mason
For the Times

When talking about the big-time players on the Frankford High School baseball team, Dave Doggett wasn’t among the first names mentioned.
But when talking about big moments or big hits, his name routinely came up.
Doggett is a senior third baseman/leftfielder for the Pioneers, and this was his fourth season on the varsity squad. During his first three seasons, Doggett contributed. This year, he was a main contributor.
"I think I wasn’t as vocal and I wasn’t as much of a leader as the other guys," Doggett said. "I just went out and played my game. I tried to help the team any way I could. I tried to focus on my hitting and my defense and lead that way. The other guys were great leaders, I think that’s why they were recognized so much. That and they are great players."
With Doggett’s assistance, the Pioneers ran roughshod over the Public League and won the crown.
They also fared very well in the state playoffs.
"This year, our goal was to play well from the beginning," said Frankford coach Juan Namnun, in his first year as head coach. "Then you want to win the Public League and you figure you get to state’s and then everything else is gravy.
"That all changed once we got to state’s. Once you get there, you want to have a good showing. You’re there, you want to try to win."
In their first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA playoff game, the Pioneers downed Avon Grove, 3-1, in eight innings. Edwin "Tito" Rohena hurled a complete-game three-hitter. He also hit a walk-off two-run homer to win the game.
In the second round, the Pioneers came up just short, falling to Hempfield, 3-2.
Still, it was a fine season. It produced a Public League plaque for the Pioneers, as well as their first win in a state tournament game.
It also concluded a great career for Doggett, who leaves Frankford with three titles.
"I’m really happy with what we’ve accomplished. I never thought I would have played in so many big games," said Doggett, who lives within walking distance of Northeast High School but attends Frankford because his father is a physical education teacher there. "I had hits in each of the last two championship games, so I have clutch hits that I’ll always remember."
The coach believes there are many reasons for the strong season. Plenty of hard work went into crafting a championship campaign. And, yes, the Pioneers had an abundance of talented players.
But it also helped that the guys were able to enjoy a little fun in the sun before ever taking a field in Philadelphia.
"We had a great head start in Florida," Namnun said. "When you’re down there at Disney and the Wide World of Sports, you practice three times a day on top-notch facilities. Then you get to play the best teams in the country. And you’re playing in eighty-degree weather every day. By the time we’re up here, that week gives us a month or a month-and-a-half head start on the rest of the league."
Next year, Doggett will put away his glove and focus on his schoolwork when he attends Penn State’s main campus. But he’s not giving up his dream of someday working in a major league ballpark.
"I want to major in communications and sports broadcasting," said Doggett, who had his team’s first hit in their final game of the season. "I want to be a commentator, either a play-by-play guy or an analyst. Or I want to work for ESPN in some capacity.
"I know it will take a lot of hard work, but I want to get a degree, then get a job somewhere in sports. Then I’ll move up from there." ••
Joe Mason can be reached at joemason70@hotmail.com