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I have known Guy Houston for roughly 55 years, as we have been teammates, opponents and most importantly friends for most of our lives.
So, when Houston got hold of me a few years back to tell me of his involvement with the Dublin Leprechauns baseball team, a member of the independent Pecos League, I knew what to expect.
Since I have known Houston, he has been the kind of guy who could sell ice cubes to Eskimos. In other words, he doesn’t shy away from tough situations – he embraces them.
Instead of conceding defeat, he finds the way to make things work. He never asks why but rather, what if we did this.
Two years ago, when the Leprechauns made their debut, they finished 4-44. In year two, they were 24-30 following a late-season rush.
This year when I had lunch with Houston and Leprechauns manager David Aceron in May before the grind of the Pecos League season, both had a twinkle in their eyes.
At that point I knew Houston as the general manager of the team had figured something out.
Both talked about pitching being the key to success in the Pecos League. Playing 54 games in around 60 days screams for pitching depth, with Houston and Aceron doing their diligence in putting together a staff.
The team finished the year 34-20 and made the Pacific Division playoffs. It didn’t stop there, as they went on the road and beat Bakersfield in the best of three first-round playoff series.
That sent them to the Pacific finals where they ended up falling to San Rafael, the team with the best regular season record, losing the first two games of the series.
But it was an amazing season — and for his efforts, Houston was recently selected as the Pecos League General Manager of the Year.
The Pecos League issued the following statement:
“Dublin Leprechauns General Manager Guy Houston has been named 2025 Pacific Division General Manager of the Year. Dublin was just in its third season in 2025 but qualified for playoffs and advanced to the Pacific Division Finals.
“Guy Houston has got the Leprechauns to the level of top Pecos League Teams despite being an expansion team. All other Pacific Division teams have at least 10 years of baseball history in their town and ballpark. The relationship with Camp Parks Reserve Army Base for the players is a one of a kind across the entire Pecos League.
“Most importantly under Guy Houston’s leadership, the City of Dublin has made a commitment to improvement at the Fallon Sports Park facilities. 2025 was the year of the Leprechauns in the Pecos League on and off the field.”
It wasn’t a surprise to me in the least, knowing Houston’s drive to be successful.
To improve that much from the first to the third season speaks volumes and leaves me excited about what will happen next year.
And if you know any Eskimos in search of ice, give Houston a call!
Fall sports underway
Here are the sports I am looking for help in getting the results: volleyball, water polo, tennis, cross country, flag football and golf.
Please feel free to contact me with any information or questions. We welcome results of junior varsity or freshman sports, and we are happy to publish them but they are published on a space available basis, with the varsity teams having priority.
The deadline each week is noon on Sunday afternoons, but you can always send them earlier. The parents in the past that took pictures of the scorebook usually send me the pictures right after they take the picture.
Send all the results, rosters and photos to me at acesmag@aol.com.
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. To contact him about his Pleasanton Preps column, email acesmag@aol.com.
