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Aug. 4, 2009
Longtime assistant Dawes retires
ROCHESTER - Longtime baseball coach Pete Dawes has retired after 24 years as an assistant at Monroe Community College.
Dawes worked as an assistant for all three Tribune coaches, H. David Chamberlain, Skip Bailey, and Mike Kelly. His work with MCC's pitchers and catchers helped guide the Tribunes to four JUCO World Series appearances and a program-best third-place finish at the 2008 nationals.
Dawes also played two seasons at MCC, earning All-American honors during his sophomore year in 1978. That year he helped lead the Tribunes to a 25-4 record, an eighth-place finish in the nation, and a trip to the World Series.
After MCC Dawes transferred to Florida International University in Miami, Fla. He was named to the NCAA Division II South District team his senior year as FIU finished sixth in the country and advanced to the D-II World Series.
Dawes brought his expertise back to MCC as an assistant coach and helped the Tribunes maintain its reputation as one of the top programs in the country. His teaching helped numerous players play in the professional ranks.
Two MCC pitchers who worked with Dawes reached the Major Leagues. Tim Redding currently pitches for the New York Mets, while Greg Keagle spent parts of three seasons with the Detroit Tigers.
Others playing pro ball in the minors were catcher David Brust (Atlanta Braves organization), catcher Bob Hurlbutt (Houston Astros), pitcher Joe Davis (Independent), pitcher Adam Curynski (Independent) and pitcher Patrick Urckfitz (Houston Astros).
Dawes was inducted into the MCC Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. That same year he was invited to work with the rookie catchers at the Detroit Tigers' Class A affiliate Niagara Falls Rapids Preseason Training Session in Niagara Falls. In 1990 he was an assistant coach with Western Region Scholastic team for the Empire State Games.
Coach Dawes is currently employed at Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation as an Energy Design Electric Engineer. He resides in Greece with his wife Susan and has four daughters.
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