SAN LUIS OBISPO RATTLERS HISTORY

The question has often been asked – “Where did the idea of the Rattlers come from?”

One day in late summer 2005, Dave Hite began musing about the next stage of
life. Hite and his business partner, Tom Beckwith had enjoyed great success over
the years in the tire business. Having operated their two county locations of ‘The
Tire Store’ for several years, Hite and Beckwith began to wonder aloud one day
what they would do one day when they were ready to “re‐tire” – no pun
intended. They knew they worked well together and they both enjoyed coaching
and watching youth sports, namely baseball. Their discussion was lively and
they felt they might be on to something, but then life quickly got in the way and
the idea was soon dropped.

However, for Hite a strange feeling of restlessness persisted. The feeling was like
an itch he couldn’t scratch. If you know Dave, you understand that he needs to Save
constantly be in motion. He needs a project; often several at once. He also has
an ability to rally everyone around him into action. He just needed a cause.
A few months later, Hite and Beckwith ran into former major leaguer Roy
Howell. Hite recalled the summer he spent with Howell participating with the
SLO Blues program several years earlier. During that one summer season years
before, Hite ran the concessions for the Blues while Howell managed and
coached the team. But soon after that season had ended, Howell moved on to
coaching opportunities at various levels within the San Diego Padres
organization. The friendship that Hite and Howell had developed that summer
continued sporadically thereafter. When their paths crossed again in late 2005,
Howell happened to express that he was no longer coaching so that he could
spend more time at home with his family. Hite quickly realized that he had
found the ‘project’ that was eluding him. Hite ‘pitched’ the idea of coaching a
local summer collegiate baseball club to Howell and the dream began to
come alive.

Hite next approached a friend, Tom Sherman to assist with the financial planning
matters associated with the start‐up of a new team. Sherman had previously
been enlisted by Hite to enhance the business structure of the Gridiron Club at
SLO High School a few years earlier. Hite also knew that Sherman had valuable
business start‐up experience since Sherman had recently opened Founders
Community Bank. Using his most persuasive charms, Hite convinced Sherman
to get on board with Beckwith and Howell.

Sherman soon suggested that another successful local businessman with years of
youth baseball experience be added to the mix. Rob Olson brought with him
both a passion and years of experience coaching youth baseball. Olson had also
served for many years on the local Babe Ruth baseball board of directors. Olson
is a man of integrity, and it didn’t hurt that he also knows everyone in town.
Together these five baseball fanatics formed the nucleus of what was soon to
become the SLO Rattlers baseball club.

Along the way, others with an enthusiasm for the game have stepped up to offer
assistance. Catherine ‘Kiki’ Kornreich developed the team’s logo and marketing
materials. Alan Tognazzini created the team’s website. Ron Rocha has become
Hite’s right hand man supporting every logistical aspect of the operation.
Rocha’s wife has been managing the ticket gate and apparel sales. John
Middlecoff has taken a break from his studies at Cal Poly to serve as an intern to
the club, specializing in marketing, media contacts, statistics and game
announcing. Chip Hastings was recruited to manage the bar‐b‐que operation,
and Nancy Hite has assumed the role of manager for the team’s elite Viper Club.