Coach Lattimer and four players inducted into Warwick Baseball Hall of Fame

Former head Coach Rob Lattimer and four players were inducted into the Warwick Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday afternoon. The players and their graduation years were:  Craig Campbell (1988), Colby Weaver (1991), John McCombs (1998) and Shawn Walsh (2004).               

“The Warwick Wildcats Baseball program has a rich and storied history that compares to the finest in New York State,” current coach Eric Rosa said during the ceremony. “The accomplishments of these great players and Coach Lattimer will forever be a part of the Warwick Baseball Program and serve as a benchmark for all who follow. Today we honor and pay tribute to them for all they have meant to our program over the years.”

Head Baseball Coach Rob Lattimer

Coach Lattimer retired after 33 years as the winningest coach in Section IX history with 480 victories. He was a four-time Sunday Record Coach of the Year, as well as the Orange County League Coach of the Year in 1967. He had a run of 22 straight winning seasons, and 15 of his 33 teams won at least one championship.

His teams won 11 Orange County Championships and six Section IX Championships. They were 3-time Capital Region Champions. Three of his teams reached the New York State semifinals and one had an appearance in the State Championship.

Coach Lattimer was Orange County baseball. He was the perfect coach for multiple generations of Warwick student-athletes and the first Head Coach to be inducted into the Warwick Baseball Hall of Fame.

Craig Campbell, Class of 1988

Craig Campbell, the sweet swinging, five-year varsity starter and four-time first team all-star, had an incredible Warwick baseball success run. Craig drove in 25 runs as an eighth grader, hit nine home runs and drove in 48 runs as a freshman, cracked 7 home runs and scored 32 runs as a sophomore and batted a school record of .593 as a junior.

In the summer between his junior and senior year of high school, Craig played for the under 18 Team USA baseball team that toured all of Europe. Campbell led the team in hitting with a .630 batting average.

His senior year he hit .439 with 39 RBIs and 46 runs scored. He was named the Times Herald-Record player of the year as his season and incredible career was highlighted by a Section IX winning walk off home run after pitching 8 scoreless innings. He will be remembered not only as arguably the best overall player in school history, but also one of the best players in Section history.

Colby Weaver, Class of 1991

Colby Weaver, considered the best catcher in Warwick Baseball history, was truly a game changer at the plate and behind it. The emotional leader of a talented squad, Colby was the fiery back stop for Warwick’s three Section IX titles in his four years.

In his junior year he batted .373 with 6 home runs and helped lead the Wildcats to reach the NY state quarterfinals. As a senior, Colby batted .395 and dominated defensively. He completely shut down the opposing teams’ running game throwing out an astounding 12 of 14 would-be base stealers. During Warwick’s postseason run to the state semifinals, Colby batted over .500 in helping the Wildcats to an incredible 25-3 record.

His intensity, competitiveness, and sheer will to win will always be remembered by those who played with him and against him. A tremendous player at all levels of baseball, Colby is most deserving of this honor, and we congratulate him on this induction into the Warwick Baseball Hall of Fame.

John McCombs, Class of 1998

John McCombs, a 1998 Warwick Valley graduate, is considered one of the best athletes in school history. As a basketball player, John was a three-time school MVP, holds the record for points in a game at 40 and is also the school’s all-time leading scorer.

In his first varsity baseball season as a sophomore, he was the team’s leading hitter and batted over .400 in the postseason to help the Wildcats win the section title. His junior year he batted .448 and belted 8 home runs. As a senior, he batted .495 with school records in home runs with 14 and hits in a season with 45. He also drove in a school and New York State record 67 runs.

John also went 6-1 on the mound and received the Times Herald Record Player of the Year award. Famed coach Rob Lattimer called him the most consistent long ball hitter he’s ever coached. His three-run home run to beat Valley Central is the only ever hit ball to land on the roof of the high school.

Shawn Walsh, Class of 2004

The final inductee for 2023 is Warwick Valley class of 2004 graduate Shawn Walsh. The “Big Swede” was one of the most powerful hitters in school history. His sophomore year Shawn batted .391 with six home runs. As a junior and second-team Section IX All Star selection, Shawn hit .407 and with nine home runs.

In an incredible senior year, not only was he a first-team All Star selection in football, but he was also a first-team pick in baseball, where he hit 12 home runs in only 19 games. The two-way star delivered on the mound as well with a 1.96 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 59 innings.

Shawn went on to accept an athletic scholarship to Iona College where he still holds the program record in saves and appearances. Shawn graduated Iona College in 2008 with a degree in Criminal Justice and is now a father of three, working as a New York State Court Officer.

Read more about the new Hall of Famers in the booklet below:
Baseball halloffame-booklet-v5