RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova Athletic Association (RCAA) pays tribute to longtime leader and youth sports champion Dennis Lamantia, who passed away Wednesday, July 27. In the world of Rancho Cordova youth sports, which is comprised of dedicated volunteers giving untold numbers of hours, Dennis Lamantia stood apart.

Dennis was the former president and treasurer of Rancho Cordova Little League where each year hundreds of kids learn life skills which can only be taught on the baseball diamond.

Dennis’ philosophy was this:

Little League is not just for players; it’s for families. It’s not just about developing baseball skills; it’s about developing life skills. It’s about building teamwork on the field and a sense of community on the sidelines. The more you put into the season, the more you will get out of it.

Come Early/Stay Late. The 10 minutes before and after a practice/game can be the most fun for your player. Encourage your players to play/dine together after a game.

Practice. Schedule a baseball play date, a lesson, go to a batting cage or just play catch in the yard.

Volunteer. On or off the field, for an hour or a season, young or old, we’ll find a way you can help. Be a role model – cheer for great plays and great effort - regardless of team. Accept bad calls – they go both ways. Remember the kids are watching you.

Dennis’ leadership at Rancho Cordova Little League would be enough to fill a book, but it didn’t stop there.

When it became obvious that youth football was on the ropes in Rancho Cordova and would probably not continue, it was Dennis who jumped in to accomplish a top to bottom renovation and reconstitute the league. To do this he had to win over the confidence of elected officials, school officials, youth football league organizations and more. Then he had to win over parents who had lost faith in the league, recruit coaches to take a chance and convince an army of doubters it could be done. He did that and more, and with astonishing speed, he resurrected and evolved youth football in the City of Rancho Cordova.

Running two youth sports leagues in the city would be too much for most people, but the story was not over. When it appeared that a fledgling youth basketball program might not make it, Dennis again jumped in to provide the administrative and organizational know-how needed to get yet another youth sports league off the ground. The Rancho Cordova Youth Basketball League is just getting started, but without Dennis Lamantia it may not have happened at all.

With those three plates spinning, Dennis next applied his considerable skills to the launch of the Rancho Cordova Track Club. Bringing his solid reputation as a youth sports leader to the line, he helped lead the establishment of this bright star on the Rancho Cordova sports map, which has hosted regional track meets attracting thousands of youth athletes over the past two years. Even as Dennis left his life behind this week, young Rancho Cordova athletes were competing in the USATF National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championship after getting their start at the Rancho Cordova Track Club nurtured by Dennis and others.

Dennis was the secretary of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association where he was a true leader. Through his excellent example, he helped Positive Coaching Alliance principles come off the page and into action. Because of his leadership, Rancho Cordova youth sports parents, coaches, managers, leaders and players in four sports disciplines are all learning the important goals of “Better Athletes, Better People.”

The Rancho Cordova Athletic Association is a convening of giants in our community.  These selfless leaders devote hundreds, if not thousands, of hours a year to provide great experiences for boys and girls in our city, and they do it as volunteers. In every case, they have stayed on to lead leagues long after their own children have aged out.

In that forum, Dennis, as the leader of FOUR leagues, was a respected giant among giants. In 2018, the Cordova Community Council Foundation honored Dennis’ remarkable contributions to the youth of the community with a prestigious award during the Annual Community Volunteer Awards ceremony.

“Dennis was a true force of nature, and anyone who was aware of the length and breadth of his service marveled at it,” said David Sander, President of the RCAA and Rancho Cordova City Councilman. “The best way to honor Dennis is to be more like him and get involved. As he was fond of saying – there is always another field to mow.”

The passing of Dennis Lamantia leaves an unfathomable hole in our community heart. The RCAA conveys most sincere condolences to Dennis’ family and the thousands of children whose lives he has touched over the years.