For David Tempel, head coach of the Ephrata High School baseball team, excellence begins long before the first pitch. It starts with a rake, a hose, and a whole lot of pride. The 2025 Tillage Summer League Baseball championship tournament was held at Johnson-O’Brien Field and the Coach Tempel, along with his team prepped the field not only all year long, but before every and after single game in the four day, 14-game tournament.
“We try to instill pride in our field and facilities,” Tempel said. “Our JV field across the street is one of the better fields in the area—and that’s just the JV field. Playing at Johnson–O’Brien is a privilege. And part of that privilege is taking care of it.”
Tempel, who played under baseball lore Dave Johnson from 1997 to 2000 and was part of the 1999 state championship team, knows firsthand what it means to carry on a tradition of excellence.
“I was part of his last state title team in ’99,” Tempel recalled. “The pride we had from working on the field was everything. We had the best facilities because we took care of it.”
The Johnson Legacy
Dave Johnson is one of the most decorated high school baseball coaches in Washington state history. He served as Ephrata’s head coach from 1971 to 2006, amassing an astounding 687–201–2 record—a .772 winning percentage—the most career wins by any high school coach in the state. While at the helm, Johnson led the Tigers to 28 state tournament appearances, secured eight state titles, and captured 25 league, 20 district, and 16 regional championships.
Johnson’s impact earned him election into multiple halls of fame: the ABCA in 2025, the WIAA, the Washington Baseball Coaches Association, and the inaugural class at Ephrata High. In tribute to his legacy and partnership with coach Marty O’Brien, the school named the baseball stadium Johnson O’Brien Stadium. Coach Johnson still helps Tempel and the future of Ephrata care for the facilities.
Field of Dreams—and Responsibility
Caring for the field is about more than immaculate aesthetics—it’s a teaching moment, said Tempel.
“Taking care of the pitcher’s mound, home plate, making sure bases are flat, clean hops on the infield—all of it matters,” he said. “It gives us one of the top facilities around.”
He continued, “You get to know your field—its intricacies. That matters in big games. Plus, when other teams celebrate on your home field, it hits different. It motivates you to protect your turf.”
A Regional Draw—and Growing Ambitions
The pride in Johnson–O’Brien Stadium has turned Ephrata into a summertime destination. “We played 16 home games—all but two were here,” Tempel said. “Everyone wants to come because they love the field and the atmosphere.”
The program’s commitment to improvement continues with plans for new LED stadium lighting—made possible by community support.
“When the football field replaced its lights, the old poles were so rotted it sparked a safety conversation,” Tempel said. “That led to a maintenance levy, and now we’re getting brand-new LED lights for the baseball, softball, and soccer fields.”
The lights will be up by the 2027 season, complete with state-of-the-art features—controllable from a phone, adjustable dimming, and long-term reliability.
“It doesn’t happen without the community wanting to build with us,” Tempel noted. “The support from voters and our district has been outstanding.”
Building More Than Ballplayers
Tempel’s leadership isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about culture. His players follow his example—sometimes literally. On the final day of the Tillage tournament, his players showed up wearing their Sunday best — replicating Coach Tempel’s impeccable style.
“You know they’re joking when they dress like you,” he said with a grin. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If they like you, they’ll play hard for you.”
His Hawaiian shirts and signature bucket hat a cornerstone of attempting the look that has taken decades to curate: “They all poke fun at it, but some of them are like, ‘This is nice.’ It keeps you cool and out of the sun. Maybe the next step is they all shave their heads. We’ll see.”
A Culture of Ownership
For Tempel, the goal is to build young men who take responsibility—not just for themselves, but for their team, their stadium, and their community.
“They want to be part of something bigger. They see the standard, and they rise to it,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to build here.”
As the legacy of Dave Johnson continues through Tempel and the next generation, Ephrata baseball proves you cultivate excellence not only in talent but in pride, care, and community—one perfectly-mowed infield at a time.