Steve Pratt was a beloved member of the Scripps Ranch community. He touched the lives of countless kids through his active involvement in youth sports during his 20+ years in Scripps Ranch. He volunteered thousands of hours to our youth through his coaching and leadership role in Scripps Ranch Little League, and Renegade and Tide travel ball baseball teams. He was also head baseball coach at Scripps Ranch High School for 2 years. Steve was not just a coach. He influenced kids in a much more significant way. He taught kids not just to be a better athlete, but to be a better person, to compete with character, show respect to teammates and opponents alike, and how to harness the mental and emotional strength needed to succeed.
Steve had a successful career as an attorney and entrepreneur. But his first love was always baseball. He relocated with his family back to New Hampshire a few years ago to serve as the General Counsel and Vice President of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats minor league baseball team. He played catcher for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (who honored him by placing his jersey in the dugout during their 2016 College World Series run), and played in the San Francisco Giants minor league organization.
Steve passed away June 21, 2016 at age 50 just six months after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
He brought a tremendous amount of energy and passion to his coaching, and influenced the lives of so many kids. He always had time for extra help after practice, or private coaching sessions. His engaging personality, quick wit, and sense of humor made him feel like a close friend to everyone he met.
Steve’s personal motto was Refuse 2 Lose. It was displayed proudly on his personalized license plate, and was a guiding force in his coaching career, as well as his personal and professional life.