Former EGHS Coach Dies/Henderson Okay After Line Drive To Head

Dan Goldman, a former varsity boys' basketball coach at Elk Grove High School, died Friday after a lengthy illness.

His predecessor, Todd Reiswig, was deeply saddened upon hearing of Goldman's passing.

"Dan was the type of person, that once you met him, you instantly liked him," Reiswig said. "People from all walks of life truly cared for Dan.  We coached together for many years, but developed a deep and lasting friendship.  I will miss him greatly."

Goldman was the head junior varsity coach and assistant to Reiswig from 1993 to 2000 when he took over the varsity job after Reiswig's resignation. He coached the Herd through the 2006 season.

Dan Goldman

Goldman was a regular worker at the Sac-Joaquin Section's basketball playoff games and for the past few years taught at Elitha Donner Elementary School.

On a personal note, I met Dan when our two sons were teammates on several Cal Ripken baseball teams. I was the head coach and when I saw Dan walk up with his son Jake the first day of rookie league practice in or around 2002, I immediately recognized him, having attended Herd basketball games.

I right away asked him to help me coach and he gladly obliged. He was great with the boys and helped me become a better youth baseball coach, too. In the years that followed we frequently talked about how much fun we had those years when our boys were young.

UPDATE: Dan's funeral will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Elk Grove.

Henderson Fine After Taking Line Drive To Face

I was walking through Sacramento International Airport Thursday arriving from a few days with my family in Kansas City and on their way to the gates was Joe and Mickey Henderson, parents of Danielle and Jolene Henderson. The Hendersons were on their way to Alabama to watch their girls play in the post-season with the Dallas Charge of the National Pro Fastpitch Softball League.

Jolene, the former All-American pitcher at Cal and before that a high school All-American at Sheldon, was in the circle for the Charge. Younger sister Danielle, who has recently finished her collegiate career with the Bears, is a reserve thirdbaseman.

What Joe and Mickey witnessed had them concerned greatly. 

Jolene Henderson in her hospital room in Hoover, Ala., after taking a line
drive to her head (photo by Joe Henderson)

In the first inning of Saturday's game a hard-hit line drive hit Jolene in the face. Though the ball made a visible gash on her forehead, she never went down, standing around stunned. Her Charge teammates stood around her in a state of shock.

Jolene was led off the field by a team trainer and was sent immediately to a local hospital.

"UPDATE: Jolene Henderson is okay. The results confirm no fracture or brain swelling! Just a swollen face," the team wrote on Twitter.

Joe also posted a positive report on Facebook:

"No brain swelling, no broken bones, and her eye sight is 20/20. Jolene is in great spirits. God answers prayers. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.," he wrote.

The Charge season ended with a 8-7 loss to the regular season champions, the USSSA Pride. 

Jolene was 3-10 with a 2.10 ERA in her first professional season with NPF. She appeared in 16 games for Dallas, starting 13 of those contests.

Danielle appeared in 31 games, starting 22 of them, and batted just .082.

Both girls are expected to return to the Charge next season.

Davis Belts A Homer A Game For Six Days

Former Elk Grove High School slugger J.D. Davis drew the attention of Minor League Baseball writers a week ago when he homered in his sixth straight game on Aug. 10.

Playing for the Advanced-A Lancaster Jethawks of the California League, Davis told MiLB.Com that his 22nd homer of the year was important for his club.

"It's a good stretch, but eventually, you're going to come back down to earth," said Davis, who was slugging 1.031 with six homers and two doubles in the first eight games of August. "I know that, for sure. The thing I can do right now is just keep taking good at-bats, taking team at-bats."

Drafted in the third round by the Astros in 2014, Davis leads the league with 88 RBI's. His 22 homers are tied for third.

"It's just the timing and being prepared to hit the ball," Davis said. "I was always a little late [earlier in the season]. I was always trying to spray the ball the other way, but I was always late to the fastball. I wasn't really picking up the ball. Me and D-Rob [hitting coach Darryl Robinson] and some of our hitting coordinators worked on getting my hips going and starting early."