Yakima Valley College Athletics

After playing for and coaching under Hall of Famer Bill Faller, Garretson took over YVC’s storied baseball program in 1988 and recorded 351 wins over 17 seasons, retiring in 2004. Garretson coached three NWAC MVPs and produced four trophies at the NWAC tournament, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 1993.

After coaching the Yakima Beetles to American Legion World Series titles in 1975 and 1979, Garretson joined Faller’s staff in 1983 and was an assistant for five seasons. The 1983 team, which also included Hall of Famer Mel Stottlemyre as pitching coach, won the NWAC title.

As a freshman outfielder in 1962, Garretson batted .342 and sparked the team to a conference championship in Faller’s first season. The Eisenhower High School graduate switched to catcher as a sophomore and earned all-region honors before moving on to Washington State University, where his batting average of .438 in 1964 set a school record that stood for 24 years.