By Terra Avilla
I refuse to call him “Davis” as for an entire season of baseball I yelled “C’mon MURPH” at the top of my lungs. So you all know him as the very mature, responsible, grown man known as Davis Murphy, but to me, he will always be the cute little red-headed teenager standing at first base, that we call “Murph.”
Now to be fair, Davis really did know me before anyone else in town, as prior to moving here, I was constantly over here to watch Frankie coach the boys, and of course, coaching the boys meant spending time with.
Davis is, and was, an incredibly gifted baseball player. He played for my husband and then went on to complete his four-year degree. After completing it, he returned to help Frankie as an assistant baseball Coach, and through his relentless work ethic, became a Dean at the College.
Watching him grow has been an absolute honor. It’s so weird to me to see him, with his beautiful wife and beautiful little girl (Cause every baseball player needs at least one daughter) bee-bopping around town, because quite literally just yesterday he was an eighteen-year-old.
Something about our relationship always makes me feel like “home.”
Even though we have both aged, the connection I have with him always makes me remember the very beginning of my relationship with Frankie and all the wonderful butterflies that came with it.
When Murph returned to help Coach, he and his wife, Morgan were a constant source of help (and babysitting) for us. When I say he has truly been there every step of the way for my family’s creation and growth, I mean it.
Watching him succeed not only at work but become the wonderful husband and father that he his makes me so happy.
I love that after playing here, he and his family live here. Susanville became their home too.
If you go to Lassen College, or work at the college, you, I am sure, are familiar with him.
Anyone who works with him will tell you how wonderful he is. All of the staff who he works with absolutely love having him as a supervisor. When my work and his work collide, I am always so shocked about how professional and on top of it he is.
Whenever I need anything work related, somehow, I always get referred to Murph and like always, he takes care of it.
When Davis is not working at the college, he is watching baseball, attending one of the many college events, or hanging out with Morgan and his little girl. Watching him interact with his ladies just melts my heart.
He is not from here, but there is absolutely no denying that he has made Lassen County his home, and that our community has benefited from his talents. Next time you stop by the college or attend an LCC event looking for my wonderful, forever favorite first baseman, Murph. One of the reasons I love where we live.
