ELLIOTT A. DOGLIONEÂ
Hartnell Little League has the distinction of calling the baseball field at Woodside Park, home. Â That baseball field is named after Elliott Doglione. Â Who Is Elliott Doglione (Pronounced -Â 'Dough' - 'Lee' - 'Own' - 'Eee')? Â Read the italicized text below which was copied directly from a letter written by Donna Doglione, Elliott's mother, and a longtime resident of our Salinas Community, to learn about Elliott and his life experience.
Elliott was drafted as a 9 year old to the Majors and played several different positions: primarily pitcher, catcher, and 3rd base. He played for the Orioles his entire Little League career. His love of the game and the amount of time he spent practicing was legendary around the league. He was one of those kids who always smiled, whether he was winning or losing (& he hated losing), but he just loved being on the field, making his best contribution. He lived up to the expectations that were put on him when he was drafted & he was called from the beginning of his Little League career "the next X Nady." To which he always answered, "No, I'm the first Elliott Doglione" (and then he'd smile this huge smile).
He was playing "winter ball," a program that his dad and several other Board members put together for kids who wanted to improve their game outside of the regular baseball season, when he suddenly started experiencing double vision. He was catching & happened to mention to me that he was seeing 2 balls coming toward him. This was in late October, 1992.
We immediately took him to the doctor's office. After an emergency MRI, he was admitted to the hospital for an initial surgery to reduce the pressure on his brain that was a result of a tumor. The 2nd surgery took place a day later; it was a 10 hour tumor excision that was successful. His prognosis was good; the tumor seemed contained & he was back to his old self in just a few days. He was released from the hospital (where he had been in ICU for 9 days) the day before his 12th birthday.Â
Once the wound healed (he had 22 staples down the back of his head; 2 vertebrae had been severed & reconstructed during the surgery), he faced 12 weeks of radiation, which was worse than anything you can imagine. The side effects of radiation are brutal; it was a nightmare to have to watch him go through this time. Elliott & I lived at the Family House at UCSF during the week & we would come home on weekends. He finished his course of radiation in late January, 1993 and things went well when we moved back home. He returned to home schooling (it was the heart of flu & cold season, so his doctors didn't want him in school with his lowered immunity). He began playing basketball on the driveway with his friends and baseball at the school diamond.Â
In March, he returned to the Orioles & baseball practice. He had lost 10 pounds, his hair was just growing back, he was weak, but he was determined that he would play the best baseball ever. Having to sit out basketball season was dreadful for him; he was going to play every minute of baseball that he could. That year, there was so much rain; most of the March games on the Orioles schedule weren't played because of the weather. But his first real game in April, the first time he was up at bat, he hit an out of the park homerun. There wasn't a dry eye in either section of the bleachers; everyone knew what he had been through in the off season, but to come roaring back his first time at bat, it was quite a statement. He told the newsman who was doing a story on his return to baseball that he felt like he was back and Elliott couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
Unfortunately, less than 3 weeks later, he began getting very tired and complaining that his bones hurt. An MRI revealed that his tumor had metastasized and we found out on Mother's Day that he had only a few weeks to live. We kept him comfortable at home (thanking God for hospice); he passed away early in the morning on June 3, 1993. He had been on this earth only 12 years, but had managed to pack a lifetime into that span. He was well traveled; an outstanding student and athlete. He had friends of all ages; he was quite a social being, so he golfed with men who were 5 times his age; he played tennis with his friends and their older brothers & sisters; he went to every game his sister played in (and would critique her play as only a younger brother can). I can't imagine how many people he touched in his life, but I know he continues to impact kids who receive his scholarship awards.Â
It has always been important to us that people remember Elliott's great sportsmanship and courage on and off the field. Those who played with him will tell you that though he hated to lose, he respected everyone on the field and would always congratulate players who made great plays, whether on his team or the opposing team. And they would also mention his smile; it was luminous & he had it on his face all the time. He would stay at the ballpark until all the games were over; he liked to study all the other teams and the way they handled situations. We would have to force him to come home if there were games still going on....
Well, I've probably given you way too much information, but I always love to talk about El....he was such a blessing in our lives and we hold him close to our hearts always.
Donna Doglione
