Neighborhood resident Russ Pate wrote his first newspaper story – an account of a Pony League baseball game – in the seventh grade for his school newspaper. Coincidentally, he was the pitcher for that same game.

“I was throwing out the adjectives,” Pate says.

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Today, Pate still combines his love of writing with his love of sports. The former editor and sports columnist has written or co-written seven books, including “Survive to Win” (a biography of Bob Watson, former general manager of the world champion New York Yankees), “Action on the First Tee,” “Greener Pastures,” and “The Mental Game Pocket Companion for Golf.”

His latest book, “Daddy’s Home at Last,” was co-written with pro football great Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears. Singletary, a father of seven, grew up without a father’s daily influence. In the book, he describes how he realized the need to put his family first, the changes he made to accomplish that, and how other fathers can make similar choices. Pate originally approached Singletary’s agent about a motivational self-help book in line with the motivational speaking done by Singletary. But after meeting Singletary, that focus changed.

“It evolved into a book about fatherhood,” Pate says. “The book is very personal, full of anecdotes and parables. Mike has a wealth of stories.”

Pate’s next project involves working with Rick “Goose” Gossage, a former player with the New York Yankees, on a biography.

“I’m a good collaborator,” he says. “I don’t have the ego of a person who wants to be the star of the show.”