New York's Premier Travel Softball Team
Dale Cook - Head Coach
Dale Cook founded the Conklin Cubs in 1989. They became the Conklin Raiders in 1993. Since the earliest of beginnings, Coach Cook has had countless players from his organization play collegiate softball. “I coach the Raiders to help players get their opportunity to play at the highest division of college softball.” He has coached 4 High School All-Americans.
Coach Cook’s coaching resume is second to none. As a high school coach at Susquehanna Valley High School (1994 – 2006), he won numerous STAC Championships, Section IV Titles and 5 New York State High School Championships. Coach Cook was Conference coach of the year 6 times, NFCA Regional coach of the year twice and was elected into the New York State Softball Hall of Fame in 2014.
As head coach of the Conklin Raiders Gold, he has led the Raiders to 4 ASA top 16 finishes, 5th, 8th, 10th, and 16th, respectively. They have and continue to travel all over the country, competing in some of the nation’s top showcase events!
In addition to softball, Dale Cook has coached Lacrosse (11 years) and Basketball (11 years). Since 1979, Dale Cook has been involved in coaching and has not looked back since! His experience, expertise and commitment is why, to this day, the region’s best softball players continue to strive to someday play for him and the Conklin Raiders Gold!
Bob Bates - Coach
Coach Bates has been a travel softball coach since 2004 and part of the Conklin Raiders Gold since 2008. He is also a coach with the Cayuga Community College softball team.
Coach Bates has taught and coached baseball and softball for 17 years. During that time, he has successfully taught all aspects of the game. He has been part of 4 ASA "A" State Championships and time spent with the Waterloo High School softball team, from 2007 - 2012, resulted in 3 Section V Titles. He has found the last 17 years to be very rewarding, having been a part of the physical and character development of so many great student athletes. He looks forward to continually bringing this ongoing process to Cayuga Community College and the Raiders.
Coach Bates is also a high school football official and has been for the past 14 years.
He is a volunteer firefighter and a certified underwater rescue scuba diver as well.
Coach Bates has two children and a very supportive wife. They have been married for 22 years. His oldest child played collegiate softball in New Jersey and his youngest is still in middle school.
