PORT ANGELES — A longtime youth sports coach in Port Angeles died in Seattle just days after his team — Paint and Carpet Barn — won the North Olympic Baseball & Softball league 12-and-younger softball championships.
William “Bill” Lammie, a Port Angeles native, was 56.
According to his daughter, Cherie Lammie, he had a heart attack Friday while waiting in line at Safeco Field to watch the Seattle Mariners take on the Texas Rangers.
“He had a massive heart attack outside of the gates before they were going in,” Cherie said.
“They were about to hand [over] their tickets to be scanned and he just collapsed.”
He was pronounced deceased at Harborview Medical Center, Cherie said.
Doing what he loved
Ending his life at a baseball game just days after his team won the championships would have been just the way Bill would have wanted to go out, Cherie said.
“It was the right place for him to be,” she said.
“He lived and breathed baseball, so it is only fitting.”
Her father “definitely went out happy,” Cherie continued.
“He is always so proud of his girls, and they won the championship and he was on his way to a Mariners game and it was a good time.”
In what seems a fitting wink to Bill, the Mariners beat the Rangers 7 to 5 during Friday’s game.
Youth sports
Her father had been involved in coaching youth sports since he was 18, Cherie said.
“It is just something that he has always loved,” she said.
“He has always been really passionate about sports, and specifically baseball and fast-pitch.
She said he was an avid baseball collector and had “a giant closet full of them.
“Baseball is his passion,” she said. “It’s his life.”
His absence will leave “a huge hole” in the local sports community, Cherie said.
“He was just a huge part of the sports community and cared about every single one of those kids that he has coached through the years,” she added, saying some of the youths he coached recently were grandchildren of those he worked with when he started.
Steve Burkhardt, North Olympic Baseball & Softball league president, said in an official statement that Lammie had been a “huge part” of the program over the years.
“He was loved by all of us in the league,” Burkhardt said.
“He was our softball director, a father, friend and beloved and respected coach.
“It is hard to lose a man who has been so integral to our community, and his love and dedication to the kids will always be remembered.”
Memorial services currently are being planned to be held at an undetermined date at Lincoln Park’s softball field.
“The family has requested to have a service for Bill at the softball fields when the time is right,” Burkhardt said.
“This will be a tribute to his commitment to our kids and is very fitting, given his dedication to our program and our community.
“Please join all us in celebrating the life of this wonderful man.”
Memorial service
During the memorial, team members will wear their championship shirts to honor their coach, Cherie said.
The Paint and Carpet Barn team won 14-2 over Jim’s Pharmacy.
The championship was the fourth straight for Paint and Carpet Barn.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
