Dennis Crawley Jr., who led the Depew High School baseball team to its first state championship after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, has died. He was 54.
He died Tuesday in his home.
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Dennis Crawley coaching at Depew High School in 2022.
The story of Dennis Crawley, the Depew baseball coach who led his team to the 2023 state championship while battling ALS, emphasizes that every day, even as hardship grows, arrives with some new chance, writes Sean Kirst.
Crawley retired in September, two years after he was diagnosed with a hereditary strain of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's disease, which has taken the lives of 26 other people in his family.
He coached his final season on crutches. Progressive paralysis of his muscles left him unable to coach third base or hit grounders in practice.
“The kids bought into everything this past season because of Dennis,” Depew Athletic Director Bob Skoczylas said after Crawley announced that he was leaving.
Inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, Crawley led the Depew Wildcats to two division championships and a sectional title in addition to the state crown. During seven seasons, his teams had an 85-24 record.
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“It’s not me that got me in the Hall of Fame. It’s all the kids I coached,” he said when told of his induction. "I coach as many kids as I can, I’ve coached three teams in one year before. I’m a glutton for punishment, apparently."
Each second takes on new meaning for Dennis Crawley, who was diagnosed with ALS a year ago.
He was a pitcher as a student at Buffalo Traditional High School, played in the minor leagues, was a youth baseball coach for 15 years and ran a travel team of young players for Buffalo Wings baseball.
He worked for Niagara LaSalle Corp. for more than 20 years as a machine operator and production supervisor. In 2020, he became director of baseball operations for Inferno Baseball Inc.
Crawley, whose mother, sister and grandfather died from ALS within a year of diagnosis, credited monthly injections of Tofersen, an experimental drug, for extending his life. He attended last weekend's Walk to Defeat ALS in Delaware Park.
Funeral arrangements will be announced.