FW: Passing of Southern California pitcher Les Riley

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>--- Original Message ---
>From: Dave Blackburn <daveablackburn at gmail.com>
>To: Jim Flanagan <jim at fastpitchwest.com>, fastball at pmihrm.com
>Date: 5/6/2010 3:44:22 AM
>
It is with deep sadness that I report to the Fastpitch community
of the
>untimely passing of long time Southern california fastpitch
pitcher Lester
>Charles Riley.  Lester was known on the field by one of two
nicknames, and
>he was always either called Les, or Moe, by his team mates,
and his
>opponents.
>
>It was reported to me by my Teammate Dave DeMaio that Les entered
the 8:30
>PM game for the Burbank Roofing Team at Robert Gross Park on
Wednesday
>night. to pitch the third inning, Les was entering in relief
of Gerald Pyle.
>After the third inning was over, Les came back to the dugout
and allegedly
>complained of feeling light-headed. Les then suddenly collapsed,
and he did
>not regain conciousness. Paramedics attempted to revive him,
and he was
>rushed to St Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank. He was pronounced
dead some
>time around 10 PM PST, to a stunned group of family, friends,
teammates and
>softball buddies. He will be deeply missed by the sport.
>
>It was opening night of the Spring / Summer session of the City
of Burbank
>men's fastpitch League. Les had been a stalwart pitcher in the
Burbank and
>Los Angeles Municipal fastpitch Leagues for decades. I personally
had
>been competing against Les since the 1980s, and I have definitely
pitch more
>games against Les, through the years, than any other pitcher.
He was a great
>battler, and universally well-liked by everyone he came in contact
with.
>
>I had played in the earlier game on the same field. I had left
the park,
>just before the time of the tragic incident. But I did say hello
to Les, as
>I was exiting the First base dugout, as he was entering. I joked
with Les
>for a moment, and laughingly said that "in this league, we would
be probably
>be throwing our 350th game against each other". He laughed,
I wished him
>well. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would
ever speak to
>him. Please keep Les Riley and his family in your thoughts and
prayers.
>
>Info on Funeral and Memorial Services pending.
>
>Dave Blackburn
>