09/20/2026
It's a long read but great inspiring message for all coaches who keep showing up.
Field Dedication Ceremony Honoring Mike Fremont Sr.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Today is a very special day for Lac St. Clair Baseball and Softball, and it is an honor to stand here as we dedicate this field to a man whose name has been a part of this league for nearly half a century:
Mike Fremont Sr.
To understand why we are here today, you have to go back to 1980.
That was the year Mike started coaching his son on the Royals. What started as a father coaching his son became something much, much bigger.
In 1982, Mike became a Director for the league.
In 1984, he served as President, with his wife, Debbie, serving as Secretary.
And that partnership became an important part of the foundation of Lac St. Clair.
In 1986, there were six baseball leagues in St. Clair Shores.
Then, in the fall of 1987, there was a proposal to combine all six leagues into one.
Mike didn't agree.
He believed St. Gertrude had something worth preserving.
So Mike refused to allow St. Gertrude to merge.
And because of that decision, there are still two leagues in the city today.
More importantly, Lac St. Clair Baseball continued to exist, grow, and thrive.
Mike has served as President multiple times over the years. In fact, there was even one stint as President that, according to family history, Debbie didn't know about!
That might tell you something about Mike's dedication—or maybe just his ability to keep a secret.
But behind all of the titles and all of the stories is something much more important.
Mike simply kept showing up.
For 46 years.
In those 46 years, you could count on one hand the number of league meetings Mike has missed.
Forty-six years of seasons.
Forty-six years of kids.
Forty-six years of coaches and families.
Forty-six years of practices, games, schedules, fields, equipment, victories, losses, and everything else that comes with youth sports.
Through all of it, Mike was there.
And Mike is what you might call old school.
If you've ever had the privilege—or maybe occasionally the challenge—of coaching alongside Mike, you know exactly what that means.
Mike believes in doing things the right way.
He believes in fundamentals.
He believes kids should work hard.
He believes coaches should teach.
And he isn't afraid to tell you when he thinks you're doing something wrong.
But that's Mike.
Because underneath that old-school approach is something that has never changed:
Mike loves coaching.
He loves the game.
And most of all, he loves the kids.
Mike has been a mentor to countless coaches over the years, including me.
And I can tell you personally that when Mike gives you advice, you listen.
You may not always agree with him.
You may not always want to hear it.
But you listen.
Because you know where it's coming from.
It's coming from someone who has spent 46 years trying to make coaches better and, more importantly, trying to make kids better.
Mike doesn't coach for recognition.
He doesn't do it for a trophy.
He doesn't do it because he needs his name on anything.
He does it because he loves watching a kid learn something, improve, gain confidence, and become better at a sport they love.
That is Mike's greatest contribution.
He has always been about the kids.
For more than 15 years, Mike ran baseball camps at Rogers Elementary School, teaching countless young players. He continued that work until just two years ago.
He also dedicates his time to teaching baseball and softball to children with special needs through Kids on the Go.
And in recent years, Mike has continued building the future of Lac St. Clair by helping rebuild our softball program alongside Patty Kirk, growing the program and getting more girls involved in softball.
He has worked hard to bring back the Steelers softball program for girls who want the opportunity to play more softball.
He has also helped restart our Softball District teams, giving our girls another opportunity to compete and represent Lac St. Clair.
After 46 years, Mike isn't slowing down.
He's still coaching.
He's still teaching.
He's still mentoring.
And he's still finding ways to give kids more opportunities.
That's the legacy we are honoring today.
Because this field isn't being dedicated to Mike simply because of the number of years he has been involved.
It's being dedicated to him because of what he has done with those years.
He has invested them in kids.
He has invested them in coaches.
He has invested them in this league.
And he has invested them in this community.
This field will now carry Mike's name.
But the real tribute won't be the sign.
The real tribute will be what happens on this field.
It will be the young player who learns how to throw a ball correctly.
The player who finally gets that first hit.
The girl who discovers how much she loves softball.
The child who gains confidence because a coach believed in them.
The coach who takes something Mike taught them and passes it on to another generation.
That's how a legacy works.
It gets passed down.
And Mike has spent 46 years passing it down.
Someday, a young player may look up at the sign and ask:
"Who was Mike Fremont?"
And we can tell them:
He was a father who started coaching his son.
He was a coach.
He was a Director.
He was a President.
He was a mentor.
He was a husband.
He was an old-school baseball guy who believed in fundamentals, hard work, and doing things the right way.
He was someone who stood up for Lac St. Clair when its future was uncertain.
He was someone who helped rebuild softball and create opportunities for girls.
He was someone who gave his time to kids of all abilities.
And he was someone who never stopped believing that sports could make a difference in a child's life.
Mike, you have given this league 46 years.
You've given us your time.
You've given us your knowledge.
You've given us your honesty—even when we didn't necessarily ask for it.
You've given us your leadership.
You've given us your friendship.
And you've given us your heart.
And Debbie, your support and partnership throughout all of these years deserves recognition as well. The history of Lac St. Clair is also a history of the two of you giving your time to this community.
So today, on behalf of Lac St. Clair Baseball and Softball, the countless players and families you've touched, the coaches you've mentored, and everyone who has had the privilege of being part of this league—
thank you.
Thank you for standing up for Lac St. Clair.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for teaching.
Thank you for mentoring.
Thank you for fighting for opportunities for our baseball players and softball players.
And thank you for reminding all of us that at the end of the day, this isn't really about wins and losses.
It's about the kids.
It's about helping them get better at a sport they love.
It's about giving them a place to belong.
And it's about making sure the next generation has the same opportunities that previous generations had.
Mike, it is with tremendous pride, gratitude, and respect that we dedicate this field in your honor.
From this day forward, every pitch, every hit, every catch, every stolen base, every laugh, and every memory made here will carry your name.
And every coach who stands on this field, every parent who sits in the stands, and every kid who steps between these lines will be part of the legacy you helped create.
Welcome to Mike Fremont Sr. Field.
Mike, you've spent 46 years helping build Lac St. Clair.
Today, Lac St. Clair gives something back to you.
Thank you, Mike.
And as Mike would probably say—
Let's get the kids on the field and play some ball.
-- Chris Mansur
