LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL: 'Our guardian angel': Two years after the death of a beloved assistant coach, Vista National still inspired by "DB"

By TOM SHANAHAN - For The North County Times | Saturday, July 19, 2008 6:09 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- The Vista National Little League All-Stars arrive Saturday in Murrieta for the Division 6 tournament with a roster of 13 players and three coaches. Little League rules stipulate how many coaches an All-Star team can have, and three is the maximum for a 13-player roster.

Vista National, though, has been winning with an omnipresent fourth coach named Dan Browne. Players, parents and coaches continue to feel Browne's spirit at the ballpark more than two years after his death. And with his initials embroidered on their caps, the Vista National players have won eight straight games and two straight tournaments to advance on the road to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

One of the Vista National All-Stars is Dan's son, Nolan, the team's athletic and baseball-savvy second baseman. He's the second oldest of four children Dan left behind when he suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 44 in May 2006.

"He's been helping me," Nolan said. "I hit a walk-off home run during the middle of the season. I was kind of talking to him, asking him to help me hit a home run, and I did. It was the first time I hit a walk-off home run."

Vista National assistant coach Rick Woolsey also thinks Browne is having an impact.

"I think Dan is up there watching it all," said Woolsey, who coached Vista National teams with Browne for eight years. "He's cheering, coaching and being inspirational for all of us. We feel his presence all the time."

The team began wearing "DB" on the left side of their caps when the 2006 All-Star season began shortly after Browne's death. Mike Pallonetti, this season's other assistant coach, was coaching the then-10-year-old All-Stars when he broached the idea to Dan's wife, Helene.

"He said they wanted to honor Dan, and I said it was a great idea, but I wanted to ask Nolan first," Helene said. "I wanted to be sure Nolan was OK with it."

It was a natural concern for a mother who wondered if her son might think wearing "DB" was one more reminder that he had lost his father.

"I like it," Nolan said. "It's like he's our guardian angel ---- our good-luck charm."

When the 2007 All-Star season arrived, Jake Brynie, one of the team's top pitchers, suggested that Vista National wear "DB" again.

"He was fun to be around," Brynie said of Browne. "He'd tell jokes and make us laugh. We always feel he's watching down on us. Whenever Nolan does something good, my mom (Tanya) says, 'Dan was here to watch it.' "

By 2008, when Vista National went on to win its first District 70 title since 2004 and its first Section 3 title since 1994, "DB" had become part of the uniform.

Though he's at an age when it's not uncommon for kids to be embarrassed by the presence of their parents around their peers, Nolan said he never felt that way about his father. Good thing, too, because Dan was more than a youth baseball coach.

"He was one of those dads that make the other dads jealous," said Tanya Brynie, who became a Vista National board member at the urging of Browne. "He made it to every school event, every sports event. He made an effort to be at your kids' events, too. If he was your friend, you were family to him."

When Alec, the oldest of the Brownes' four children, no longer wanted to play baseball, Helene said Dan and Alec took tae kwon do lessons together in San Marcos as a way to keep Alec busy as he entered his teenage years and to keep Dan involved in his life.

Dan, who was a physical therapist, was testing for a green belt when he said he didn't feel well. He went outside for fresh air, came back inside and sat down. He collapsed and died almost instantly.

"He was in absolute outstanding physical condition," said Helene, "but his arteries were clogged."

In addition to Nolan, who recently turned 13, and Alec, 15, Dan left behind two younger children: Melissa, now 10, and Dillon, 8.

"It was always fun having my dad involved with me," Nolan said. "I didn't have to be one of those kids whose parent wasn't there. I thought it was pretty cool when they asked me (about wearing DB on the caps). I'm glad we did it."

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