Alan Dugard celebrates 88th birthday and looks forward to helping out Woodbridge softball

Former Woodbridge softball coach Alan Dugard with Natasha Watley, who was an Olympic softball player inducted into the Woodbridge Hall of Fame. (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Former long-time Woodbridge High softball coach Alan Dugard, who turned 88 on Thursday, Aug. 27, is still keeping busy even during the coronavirus pandemic, adding piano playing to his list of hobbies.

“I’m feeling great; I work out every morning for 45 minutes and walk a little bit after that and then I come back and eat breakfast and try and live a normal life,” said Dugard, who retired from teaching at Woodbridge in September 2019. “I have a dog that I have to take care of and he’s a handful.”

Dugard said he combines the walking type workout with weight lifting.

“It’s like walking but you’re sort of in a fixed position going back and forth; it works up a really good sweat,” he said.

Dugard was scheduled to make a return to the Woodbridge softball program last spring helping out assistant coach Jerry Rose before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Dugard was Woodbridge’s head softball coach for 24 years before retiring in 2014. He stepped down after leading Woodbridge softball teams to four CIF titles and 15 league crowns.

He was excited to get involved again with the Woodbridge softball program. The Woodbridge softball tournament, although it was not played this past season, is named the Alan Dugard Classic.

“I started out with Jerry when they started their normal practices,” Dugard said. “We were doing pretty well and I was feeling pretty good about it, I was able to hit infield and spent time with the girls talking about the game and it was really uplifting for me to be with those kids again and talking softball. I was really disappointed when one day they said you can’t even pick up your stuff over there (at Bill Barber Park), so Jerry picked it up for me and we’ve been waiting ever since.”

Dugard said he’s planning to return to help out again for Woodbridge softball next spring. Softball is scheduled to start in March 2021.

“Hopefully I can get back out onto the field, I would like to do that,” he said. “I plan to come out, swinging that bat makes me feel good.”

More than a year ago, Dugard dealt with the death of his wife Rosemary Dugard, who was a big supporter of the Woodbridge program.

“Today was our 60th anniversary in addition to my birthday,” Dugard said. “The memories come back.”

Dugard said he was planning to go out to dinner with his sons Martin and Matt, on Thursday night to celebrate his birthday.

He remains upbeat about life, despite the restrictions that the coronavirus pandemic has put on everyone.

“I think I’m doing pretty well; I don’t want anybody to tell me any different,” he said.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com