Juvenile Westlake Parents Scuttled Wilder’s Program

The release of Dave Wilder by Westlake High School is a travesty. Mr. Pawlick and the administration at Westlake ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Just last week Pawlick, the athletic director, told me in a telephone conversation that “Dave is going to be here as long as I am . . . we know we have the right man as our coach.” I hope this means he is going to resign because he has gutlessly given in to the mean-spirited clique of self-serving parents who waged this campaign against Wilder.

Their latest allegation that Wilder was never the head coach at Verdugo Hills High is a classic example of a reality that has nothing to do with the truth. At Verdugo Dave made the lineup, ran the practices, called the signals, picked the pitching rotation, did all the work of head coach down to taking care of the field and even designing the uniforms. The ostensible “head coach” was a teacher. If they named Wilder head coach they would have had to pay him, however, and the teacher was already on the payroll.

Ask any kid on that team who the real head coach was and they’ll tell you it was Dave Wilder.

Shame, shame, shame on Pawlick for refusing to see this. Shame on the Riordans and Carrs, and the other parents who joined in or sat idly by, as this awful character assassination has unfolded.

Shame on the kids who were disrespectful and disruptive beyond belief. The arrogance and belligerence of the young Carr and Riordan, mirroring the juvenile behavior of their parents, has done more harm to the Westlake baseball team than Dave Wilder could have ever done.

You have all proven yourself to be losers today, not winners. You carry the stigma of hurting a man who has given his life to youth and baseball in this area. I hope it stays with you a long time. A pox on your program.

NEIL REICHLINE

Sherman Oaks

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I am writing in response to an article about Westlake High baseball Coach Dave Wilder that appeared in the April 14 edition of Valley Sports.

It has come to my attention the sources quoted in the article have only known Dave a short time and not truly experienced his warmth and devotion.

I have known Dave since playing Pony Baseball at Encino Little League in 1990. I was 13, and although I loved the game of baseball, I didn’t know much about it.

He taught me more than baseball, going way beyond his duties as a Little League coach. Our team was not the best in the league, but because of his caring we developed heart and learned to stick together. It is because of his devotion I am where I am today.

He took the time last year to drive from Sherman Oaks, during rush-hour traffic, pick me up in Calabasas and take me to Westlake High where he worked with me for two hours a day to turn me from a bullpen catcher for Calabasas High to a co-captain and part-time starter as a senior.

Does this sound like a man who is doing this for himself?

I agree with writer Vince Kowalick when he wrote, “But for now Dave Wilder is the coach of Westlake High’s baseball team and some people have forgotten what this means.”

I believe some people were meant to be great ballplayers and some were meant to be great coaches.

Dave Wilder was meant to be a great person and that is exactly what he is, regardless of what has been said.

JOSH NADLER

Varsity Co-Captain

Calabasas High