It was a historic—and slightly humorous—day at Montgomery High as the school officially named its baseball field after legendary coach Russ Peterich.
The Press Democrat reports a crowd of former players and colleagues gathered Saturday to celebrate the man who has spent nearly 60 years shaping Santa Rosa athletics across four different sports. The ceremony hit a brief snag when the new sign initially revealed a “K” instead of an “H” in his name, but the 82-year-old “patriarch” of the Vikings took the gag in stride.
Peterich’s legacy includes over 450 baseball wins and decades of service as an athletic director, earning him Hall of Fame honors at every level. While the sign now bears his name, speakers noted that his true impact is seen in the generations of athletes he turned into men.
Peterich called the outpouring of support “just great,” as he spent the afternoon surrounded by a sea of Vikings red.