There are plenty of folks around with deep roots in the Helena Legion baseball program, and strong ties to Kindrick Legion Field. Two of those guys are Helena Senators assistant coaches Pat Screnar and Bill Rook.

Screnar’s dad, Joe “Popeye” Screnar, was a member of the Helena team in 1933. He and Harry “Stack” Kovich are the two oldest surviving members of the local Legion club. Popeye and brothers Skrip and Luke were standouts for the East Helena Smelterites in the old City and State Leagues, while Pat’s cousins, Terry and Jim Screnar, also matriculated on the Capital City diamonds.

In 1969-70, Pat Screnar played third base for the Helena Reps. And his son Ryan carries on the baseball tradition in California, as a college pitcher for Cal Poly Pomona.

Bill Rook, who pitched in the Copper League’s final season in 1965, has been a Babe Ruth, Reps and Senators coach for almost 30 years. His son Bill played for the Senators, as did one of his grandsons, Nick LaFountaine. He also has three more young grandkids coming up, all of whom look like they’re destined to wear the Senators’ uniform. Bill’s wife, Mary Rook, seldom misses a game, either at home or on the road.

After graduating from the University of Montana, Pat Screnar did his physical therapy graduate studies at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, earning a degree in 1977. From 1978-81, with the Kerlin-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, Screnar helped rehabilitate L.A. Dodgers’ Doug Rau, Don Stanhouse and Burt Hooton.

The Dodgers hired Screnar as their full-time physical therapist in 1981. For the next 25 years, he helped rehab dozens of injuries, earning a reputation as one of the top shoulder therapists in the country.

“When you’re with of an organization like that, from the owner down to the clubhouse boy, you’re part of the team, and you take every win and loss to heart, just like the players do,” Screnar related. “The Dodgers were my second family for 25 years.”

Screnar, 55, said that he experienced a lot of special moments during his two and a half decades in the big leagues — both happy and sad. He said his favorite highlight was the 1988 World Series championship team. “Of course the Kirk Gibson homer against the Athletics always jumps out first. And Orel Hershiser’s record-breaking 59 consecutive scoreless innings streak was incredible. What most people forget, is that he did that at the end of the season, after already pitching over 200 innings,” Screnar said.

He feels that Hershiser’s streak and Greg Gagne’s breaking the save record are the most awesome individual accomplishments he was witness to. Regarding L.A.’s colorful manager, Screnar said, “Tommy Lasorda was the most impressive motivator of players I’ve ever seen.”

One of Screnar’s milestones was being part of the rehab of Orel Hershiser. After Hershiser underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery by Dr. Frank Jobe in 1990, and made his successful comeback in 1991, the Dodger great paid his therapist the ultimate compliment. In 1991, Hershiser wrote, “Pat Screnar (is) perhaps the best baseball therapist in the country.”

Screnar confessed that Hershiser is among his closest friends, along with guys like Mike Scioscia and Ron Roenicke.

While Screnar was still working for the Dodgers, a friend of Pat’s sent him a Bob Morgan painting of Kindrick Legion Field.

“I couldn’t believe how much nostalgia that painting brought back,” Screnar said. “And then after I moved back home, and walked into Kindrick, all those memories came flooding back.” Shortly after the beginning of this season, Screnar found a niche in the Senators’ dugout, joining Rook, John Anderson and Austin LeSage as assistant coaches. His chief duties consist of helping out with the pitchers.

“Pat has an extensive knowledge of the game of baseball,” head coach Dave Thennis said. “It’s been fun being able to pick his brain.”

“You know, I’ve come full circle now,” Screnar said. “I first played at Legion Field in 1963, with the Pirates when we were under the lights for the Little League championship, and for me to be back in that same environment is real special. And I’m very grateful for how welcome Dave and his coaching staff has made me feel.”

“It’s really been nice having Pat around,” said Rook. “He handles the bullpen and makes the sure the flow of the relief corps is smooth. It’s like an extra set of eyes, a lot of times he’ll pick up little flaws that I’ve overlooked. Plus he’s got some great Tommy Lasorda stories.”

Bill Rook started out as a high school athlete in Virginia, where one of his teammates was future Major Leaguer Johnny Oates. He went on to play baseball and football for the College of the Ozarks in Arkansas.

Rook, 65, coached several of his son Bill’s youth teams before assisting with the Senators’ from 1984 to 1988, including a stint as head coach for the 1986 season. “I started out with the Legion under Keith Sell,” Rook recalled. He took a hiatus from 1989 to 1994, going back to the ranks of Babe Ruth coaching.

He returned to the Legion in 1995, and for the next four years guided the pitchers and catchers. When Thennis took over the head coaching duties in 1999, Rook received the official title of pitching coach and has served in that capacity ever since.

“Bill is old reliable for me,” Thennis said. “He’s a guy I can always count on. His dedication and commitment to the program is second to none.”

Rook said that the highlights of his career are winning the three state championships from 2001 to 2003, and going to Regionals. He also gets a kick out of it when a former player stops by to visit.

“It’s a great feeling knowing they have gone on to become successful adults, or when they come back to the park after being away for a while,” Rook said. “It’s nice to know that they haven’t forgotten their roots. You just hope that you’ve touched their lives in some way.”

Rook said that it was especially rewarding when at the recent Babe Ruth tournament, he was approached by Chris Keim. Keim — who played for the Senators in 1985-87 and went on to pitch in the minors for the Cincinnati Reds — made a point to thank Rook for everything he did for him.

Rook has three grandsons coming up through the ranks these days. Brad plays for the Reps, while Tanner and Chase are in the Babe Ruth leagues. And although he enjoys watching the threesome play and is eager to impart his wisdom to the youngsters, he said that there is a fine line between family and baseball etiquette.

“I don’t want to overstep my bounds with their coaches,” Rook explained. “I’ll offer suggestions if I’m asked, by either themselves or their coaches. Their dad (Bill) helps them a lot, and every once in a while he’ll come to me for advice. And anytime one of them has a question or needs a pointer, grandpa is there to help them. Just a couple weeks ago I taught Tanner a new curveball, right out in our front yard.”

“I coached my son, and I was harder on him than anybody else,” said Rook, admitting that part of his mellowing process over the years has been the influence of coach Thennis, whom he feels is “the best coach I’ve ever been around.”

Rook feels that he is fortunate to have a family with the same loves that he has.

“I feel blessed that they all love baseball,” expressed Rook. “It’s just so much easier when everyone’s involved. I don’t care where we are or what we’re doing, the subject of baseball always comes up.”

Both Rook and Screnar both agree that helping the kids should always be the main focal point. “I’ve learned a lot about baseball, and it’s very satisfying to be able to pass along anything I can,” Screnar said.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or e-mail curt52s@bresnan.net