Many of us are spending time with our fathers today. If we’re too far away, we’re calling, sending cards, or simply sending “happy Fathers’ Day” messages on Facebook. Several of the Minnesota Millers are fathers, and we want to wish all of them happy fathers day today. We also wanted to tell you about one very special father-son combo.

 

Coach Doug Van Duyne’s son Evan has been a Miller from the beginning. “My dad has been the biggest motivator for me to do well”, Evan said during a 2014 television interview.

 

The rest of us feel the same way. As we described in our post yesterday, Doug is one of the biggest motivators for us all to do well. Not only because of his excellent coaching, but because he treats all of us as if we were his own sons and daughters. He praises us when we do well, and makes sure we know why when we didn’t. He pushes us to do better each year. Through his coaching and through the example he sets for all of us.

 

Doug puts in an enormous amount of time off the field as well. He attends every Minnesota Fighting Lions board meeting, even though he no longer officially serves on the board. When the Millers aren’t practicing, Doug often spends his Saturdays with the Minnesota Fighting Lions recreational program, coaching less experienced players and scouting for new talent.

 

Please join us in wishing Doug, and all the fathers out there, a happy Fathers’ Day.

 

This post wouldn’t be complete without a reminder to help us achieve our $18,000 fund raising goal for 2015. We’re over half way there, but we still have a long way to go. Donating is quick, easy, and tax deductable through the donate links on www.mnmillers.org. Thank you to all of you who have donated so far. You’re helping maintain the tradition of beep baseball in Minnesota and we all appreciate your support.