Feature: Youth Sports Night to Honor Pancho Tavera, Jr.

KEIZER, Ore. - The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will conclude their five-game homestand against the Vancouver Canadians with a packed night of events, including the welcoming of the community's youth sports as well as a dedication to local community icon and coach, Pancho Tavera Jr.

This is a perfect night to celebrate youth sports as all kids under the age of 12 can be admitted into the game for free-a promotion that occurs weekly at Volcanoes Stadium. All kids are encouraged to wear their team gear, such as a t-shirt or a hat.

In order to request a free ticket for outfield berm seats, families can email the Volcanoes owner, Jerry Walker, at [email protected]. Upgrades can be requested for $3.

Aside from Youth Sports Night, this is also an evening to honor the life of Tavera Jr., who passed away from esophageal cancer on April 20, 2015. It is because of his passion for coaching and sharing his knowledge with kids that Youth Sports Night includes a dedication to this memorable community leader.

There will be a pregame ceremony at 6 p.m. for Tavera Jr. to commemorate his contribution to the community and his family. In addition, this night will also be a fundraiser as a portion of the ticket sales will go towards the Tavera family.

As a man who worked in a variety of areas around Salem, Tavera Jr. significantly impacted the entire community. He worked in security for various places, including Walmart, Old Chicago, and The Ram, and he also worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections at Oregon State Penitentiary. Additionally, Tavera Jr. was involved in the Boys and Girls Club in Salem.

Francisco Tavera, Tavera Jr.'s father, said, "He was good natured. If you needed a hand, he would be there. He was always smiling."

In fact, Tavera Sr.'s favorite memory of his son was his smile.

Tavera Jr., along with his wife and two sons, have also directly affected the Volcanoes by housing players for the team during the season. It started when Francisco Tavera, Tavera Jr.'s father, hosted players in his home. This is a matter of helping out as a family, and because of that, Tavera Jr.'s family has housed players for four consecutive years.

According to Greg LaFountaine, assistant baseball coach at McNary High School, "Pancho was a guy who really loved people-loved being around people. He was a really good person and a huge baseball guy-a huge sports guy, but especially baseball."

Despite his various jobs, Tavera Jr.'s passion was coaching. His coaching career began when he coached baseball for Pioneer Little League with his father. His places of work consisted of Pioneer Little League, McKay JBO Baseball, McNary High School, and McKay High School. It wasn't always baseball, either; Tavera Jr. also coached football.

As his two sons grew up, Tavera Jr. coached them at all ages and at various places. He even coached alongside his brother Marco at McKay High School while coaching his oldest son, Noah. 

Kasey Tavera, Tavera Jr.'s wife, said, "He just had a way of connecting with the players. He would say that his baseball season was like a vacation because he was able to get outside, out on the baseball field, doing what he loved."

Candy Annen, his mother-in-law, said that coaching was where he shined the most. "He just loved baseball and being with kids. We're looking at 20 years of dedicating his time."

His goal was to teach the kids who had never played before to see this miraculous improvement at the end of the season. He was also a man who wouldn't treat people differently than anyone else.

While it was apparent that Tavera Jr. loved to coach, he especially enjoyed baseball with his father, brother, sons, and simply his entire family. He was a huge family man.

"As a family man, you couldn't wish for a better son-in-law or better father for your grandchildren," Annen said. "He was a hands-on dad. It was always about his family."

In his final days, Tavera Jr.'s biggest concern was his kids. He said to his wife, "I'm going to be okay. I just worry about the kids."

"I couldn't be more proud of the dad he was to our boys and I couldn't have been blessed with a better dad to father our boys," Kasey Tavera said.

Although Tavera Jr. is no longer here, he still has an impact on this community and will be remembered as his legacy is continued. There is a plan in the works to remodel the baseball and football facilities at McKay High School and name it "The Pancho Tavera Field of Dreams." 

Also, scholarships in Tavera Jr.'s honor are being created as Yolanda Tavera, his mother, organized a $1000 scholarship this year and awarded it to a Salem-Keizer student. The idea has been thrown out there to fundraise for more scholarships in his name.

Chris Lee, head baseball coach at North Salem High School said, "I knew him as a warm, gregarious man who would do anything for anybody."

Tavera Jr. would meet anyone with a hug, a smile, or a handshake, and he wanted everybody to have a good time.

"Pancho was not only a young man, but he was also like my best friend," Tavera Sr. said.

Kasey Tavera said, "He had the biggest heart and a contagious smile. Whether Pancho knew you or didn't know you, and you were in his presence, he treated you like he knew you forever. Pancho had a way of making everyone around him feel comfortable and welcome."

It is clear that Tavera Jr. was well-liked by everyone in the community, and he especially had an impact on the kids. For that reason, it would only be appropriate to honor his life on Youth Sports Night.

For more information on the Tavera fundraiser or how to donate, please contact Volcanoes Stadium at 503-390-2225.