Centerville, Iowa -- Pat Daugherty, the legendary coach who put the Centerville Junior College/Indian Hills Community College baseball program on the map, came back to the IHCC campus this month to sign copies of a new book, "Community Treasure." The book is an inside look at how the baseball program rose to prominence during Daugherty's 16 years at the helm, increasing the victory total from six the season before Daugherty arrived to a high of 45 wins in 1976, and two trips to the JUCO World Series.
There are chapters about the town of Centerville and the college, but the bulk of the book centers around memories from a multitude of people, including former players, coaches and others whom Daugherty influenced during his time at the school.
Along with Daugherty at the signing ceremony, held at the Barn on the Centerville campus, were the book's authors, Phil Janssen and Jerry Tapp, Wisconsin natives who both played for the former coach. Theirs are only two of the stories offered by former players, a number of whom went on to play in the major leagues.
A large crowd turned out for the book-signing, including a number of men who played for Daugherty during his stint in Centerville. All the members of the current IHCC roster also got a chance to meet the man whose name is on the field where they will play their home games next spring. Daugherty spoke to each of the players individually, showing off the skills that made him an outstanding recruiter, one who built his program with talent not only from Iowa, but surrounding states as well.
Copies of "Community Treasure" can be purchased for $20 each. Anyone who would like the book mailed to them can contact Kevin Pink at the IHCC Ottumwa campus (Kevin.Pink@indianhills.edu) or Deb Worley on the Centerville campus (Deb.Worley@indianhills.edu). Proceeds from the book sales go to the IHCC baseball program.