Pat Blum

     First getting hooked on Softball in the late 70’s after he saw the King, Eddie Feigner, Pat Blum is no stranger to the world of Softball.  Growing up with “Sandlot” Softball playing at little known “Metz Field” in Lock Berlin, NY in the Rochester District, it didn’t take very long before Pat expanded from playing to coaching when his sister Kim became his first student, while she played in the early 80’s for Clyde-Savannah High School.  Not satisfied just having Softball in the immediate family into which he was born, Pat married into it, as his wife Terri was a two (2) year starter at Delhi State College in the late 80’s.

     Pat got his first coaching opportunity in 1990 when he coached a youth team in Baldwinsville, NY.  That humble start led to four (4) years of Recreational Softball coaching, 22 years of Travel League Softball coaching, and three (3) years of high school coaching at Watervliet from 2008 – 2010, where he rebuilt the program that had been on a seven (7) year winless streak, and led them to their first win.  By his third season they had been named the Times Union Team of the Week.  He has trained many athletes over his career, but one that stands out in his mind would be his 16 years old daughter Samantha, who has played Varsity Softball for Colonie High School since becoming a Freshman.

     He currently coaches the New York Rockers, and has done so through six (6) straight Championships.  He is a New York State Certified Coach in Softball and Basketball, and is a SUNY Youth Sports Certified Gold Level Coach.  His uncle, Fred Blum, a native of Rchester, NY, was the National ASA President from 1968-69; and was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 1987.  In 1969, his uncle Fred was on the original four (4) person committee that pushed for Softball to become an Olympic Sport.  that effort was completed when in 1996 Softball was part of the Olympic Games, and the USA took the Gold Medal!