The joys of coaching!!

I have had the first four weeks of my summer filled with baseball, and I must admit it has been awesome!!  Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I have been to be able to spend virtually every day of my adult life around baseball, around baseball players, and around other baseball coaches.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

It isn't just the sport of baseball that I am grateful for; it is the people I get to be around because of baseball that provide me with a life full of blessings.  Every day I get to work with kids who have a love for the game and who desire to get better every day.  Whether the kids are under ten years old, are teenagers or college guys, they constantly fill me up with positive feedback and I benefit so much from these relationships.  Most of these relationships last a lifetime, even though there may be hundreds of miles and many years that separate me from such inspirational people!!

Doing lessons with kids, coaching teams, and working at baseball camps give me so many opportunities to help kids plant positive seeds about themselves in their own minds.  I can't claim to always say the right things or the best things, but I sure enjoy it when I can feel as though I can enhance a day for a kid or two.

The networking and relationships that develop with other coaches is another thing that never fails to add happiness to my own days, and for that I am always grateful.  Working with other coaches in the dugout, on the field during practices and games, at camps, etc., provides me a sense of belonging to a special group of people who are of high character.  Other coaches regularly exhibit quality behaviors that I can try to emulate and that remind me of the many great reasons we choose to teach a kid's game.

As usual, I couldn't ask for a better way to live my life!!

Positive progress is pleasing to witness

This morning as I walked onto the baseball field at Adrian College for our first game in this weekend's American Legion tournament, I called my son Eric to tell him that it is so awesome to be able to get up in the morning and head out the the ball park.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that almost every day of my adult life!!  At the time I called him, Eric was getting ready for his morning workout before heading to East Lansing to watch some tournament baseball games for recruiting purposes.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and I know he is as grateful as I am!!

As for the Adrian American Legion team, we are indeed a work in progress, and the squad continues to play competitive games and win more games than what was expected from them prior to the season.  The team's record is now 16-9 and though there have been a few poorly played games, the players seem to bounce back after those games and play pretty well in subsequent games.  That is an example of a group of players who have the ability to leave a poor outing in the past, who have the ability to have a short memory when necessary, and can come to the park and compete, no matter what happened in the previous game.

In today's first two games of this weekend's tournament, we won the morning game 3-1 and lost the afternoon game 2-1.  Gage Lolley pitched a two-hitter for the win this morning and Mike Reitz battled and certainly pitched well enough for the win this afternoon.  The defense was solid and the entire team competed from the first pitch to the last.

One of the things that this group has improved on this season is their dugout demeanor.  Early in the season it was easy to tell what the scoreboard said simply by watching the body language and listening to the team and self-talk in the dugout.  They were negative and tight when losing, and they were happy and loose when winning.  We have discussed the importance of having a more even demeanor and they have responded by being much more consistent in the way they approach the game, about the way they act and talk in the dugout.  I tip my hat to the players for making that progress!!

In general, the players as individuals are also getting better at controlling their emotions, as opposed to allowing their emotions to control them.  Some of them have more work to do than others, but they are making strides which will enhance their future athletic experiences in baseball and in the other sports that they play.

I remember when Eric played baseball as a teenager.  He had one summer coach who did very little teaching of the game, and he explained that he thought at the age of 16-18 the players should already know how to play the game.  I have found that players at this age need a tremendous amount of instruction about the game of baseball and need to learn more about hitting, pitching, fielding mechanics as well as all of the different situational circumstances that take place throughout a game and a baseball season.  Just as college players tend to do a bit better than their high school counterparts, these guys need to allow coaches to fill their cups with as much knowledge as possible so that they can take it and run with it.  Some players are better than others about letting new things into their cups, and as they allow more in, they tend to soak it up and make steady improvements.

So in saying all that, I am grateful for the opportunity to be in the dugout with these guys who gradually allow more and more into their cups.  It is a win-win scenario, as I get to learn, benefit, and have fun along with them.

The development of teenage athletes

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Sandusky, Ohio with the Adrian American Legion team.  Last year I had planned to help Aaron Klotz coach the team but my spring/summer health kept me at home.  This year, though Klotter is no longer the coach, I have appreciated not only my good health, but another opportunity to coach baseball, as Dave Stanifer and Don Cappelletty have brought me along with their team.

Though I am most accustomed to coaching college aged (age 18-22) players, because of my own kids and doing camps and lessons I do enjoy working with younger athletes.  The Legion team is made up of guys between the ages of 16 and 19.  The game of baseball is the same for them as it is for the college guys, but the high school aged players aren't as refined with some of their skills nor as experienced with many of the situations that occur during games.  Because of the fact that these players are at the age that they can learn so much, I have the fabulous opportunity to teach while in the dugout.  Every pitch of every game brings a new situation; therefore every pitch provides a learning opportunity.  Hopefully, you can imagine how much fun it is for me.

One of the major teaching points that I am able to help these athletes with is the mental/emotional part of the game.  Their ability to control their thoughts, and thus their emotions, is so important in developing their abilities to be successful in game situations that they perceive as stressful.  That part of the game is so important for athletes who are hoping to continue playing a sport (or two) after they leave high school as well as for the ones who are playing just because they love to play.  There are so many gifted athletes in the world, but the ones we watch on television who are paid millions of dollars to play games are the ones who have separated themselves from the others, often due to their ability to control their thoughts and emotions while in the middle of a competitive situation.

Through the years I have learned over and over the importance of the mental and emotional side of competing.  I have had to learn how to improve that part of the game for myself as a coach, too!!  Last summer when I was holed up in my house, I had the opportunity to watch more professional tennis and golf on television than I ever imagined myself doing.  While doing that, the commentators, especially the former pros in the broadcast booths, constantly talked about the athletes and their abilities (or lack of) to handle the mental/emotional parts of the games.

So for me, as fun as I am having teaching baseball skills, pitching and hitting mechanics and philosophies, etc., I am also enjoying the opportunity to help these guys with the mental/emotional part of competing, which will ultimately enhance their ability to execute efficiently and effectively with their athletic skills in all the sports they play.

Tomorrow is the last day of the school year for me......then my summer truly begins!!!  I couldn't ask for anything more!!

Summer Baseball!!

It is now mid-June and the NCAA Division III season has been history for a couple of weeks.  Though we didn't win the Regional or National Championship, 2011 was a rewarding season with great players and fellow coaches.  We finished second in the country in team ERA, behind the National Champion Marietta College team.  We were also the only team to shut out Marietta this season, beating them 2-0 in Florida in early March.

I am still in the classroom for another week or so, but a new baseball season has begun for me.  I am helping coach the Adrian American Legion team for the summer.  Two years ago I helped Coach Aaron Klotz during the last three weeks of their season and was planning to join him again in the dugout last summer.  Unfortunately I had a health issue and took the summer off, and now with Coach Klotz coaching Logan and the 8U Adrian Dirtbags I have decided to help new coach Don Cappelletty with the Post 275 Legion team.

We were able to have two practices before last night's first doubleheader against Brooklyn, and for those practices we were without the Tecumseh High School players who had advanced to the state quarterfinals that were played on Tuesday.  I congratulate their high school team, and all four of out Tecumseh players played in last night's opening doubleheader.

We won both games last night by scores of 3-1 and 3-2, and then won game #1 of the Blissfield Tournament today 3-2 before getting rained out in game #2.  It's great to win games, but I've gotta confess that just being out there at practice, and especially being in the dugout for the games, is a special thing for me.

Coach Klotz has been telling me that he enjoys the constant coaching he gets to do now with the eight year olds, and I echo his feelings now as I have the privilege of working with high school age players.

For a long time, I have defined coaching as 'teaching and developing/nurturing relationships'.  With players I have never coached before (other than working with them occasionally at camps, etc.) I now have this opportunity to teach them and interact with them virtually every day, every game, every inning, and every pitch.

I have to admit, for me, this beats just about anything else I could be doing!!!!

I have more exciting things happening, but I'll save that for another time!!

Does the season ever really end?

Our season has been done for two weeks now.  What is it that college baseball coaches do when their seasons end?  What I do now is different than when I was a full-time head coach, and it is different that what full-time assistant coaches do.

I teach in the public schools, so I am still working at getting through the school year.  Today we even had an injury at school.  One of our students lost a tooth when he was hit in the mouth by a swing.  I felt so bad for him, but he handled it like a trooper and was on the bus heading home fifteen minutes later.  I have seen similar types of injuries on the baseball field over the years, but I seem to expect to see blood on the field more than I would at school.

Anyway, the day after our season ended I went to Comerica Park to watch the Detroit Catholic League Championship games with Eric Theisen and Xander Younce.  They both have 'Recruiting Coordinator' listed as part of their jobs, so they were (apparently) working hard.  I was just along for the ride, but I always love those games.  I played at Tiger Stadium in the same games when I was in high school and coached there (and won) in 1987.

I have been to a few other local high school games in the last two weeks, sometimes after school and also on the weekends.  I don't really do any recruiting, but I have been able to see some kids I know play some games.  I have given lessons to some of the kids in the county, and some pitching staffs in the county, and I rarely have opportunities to see them play in games.

The full-time guys are going all over the place watching high school games.  For the most part, the 2011 recruiting classes are all wrapped up and the coaches are trying to tie up some loose ends and maybe find a player or two who have slipped through the cracks.  This is a great time to add to the list of 2012 high school seniors that college coaching staffs have already been working on.  State tournament games always tend to have some more excitement and intensity than some other games that are played during the high school season, so the idea of being able to see kids compete and observe how they respond to various situations can be beneficial in determining where a player may go on a coach's recruiting list.  Eric and Xander are in Columbus, Ohio today and tomorrow watching the Ohio State Tournament, and then they will be back here in Michigan watching District Tournaments on Saturday.

In the meantime, Luke Harrigan is finishing up his work at Adrian College and getting ready for his first head coaching venture at Westminster College in Missouri, where he will undoubtedly find success carve some history.

One thing I always enjoy while at high school games is the opportunity to trade idle chit chat with some of the locals, who are usually parents, grandparents, or friends of the players on the field.  These people always know more about most of the players on the field than I do, and of course they always have more at stake in how the game is being played than I do.  Just in the last week I have had the privilege of talking to school administrators, aunts and uncles, siblings, parents, step-parents, and friends of the players and the coaches.

The experience of having nice, relaxing conversations at baseball fields with other baseball people is one of the great joys of the spring and summer.  I have to make sure I get out and see some other local kids, and my nephews, play in the next few weeks.  I may not appear to be having as much fun as the kids on the field..............but I am!!!!

End of season, letter to our pitchers

Pitchers,

Though it happens every year, it is never easy to find the perfect words to say when a season ends unexpectedly.  In saying that, I'll try my best without being too wordy.

First of all, I need to thank you all for seeming to buy in to what we do, and specifically for buying into what I try to do.  Though I am 52 years old and have been coaching college baseball since the fall of 1987 (yes, we did wear helmets back then), I know that I have to continue to learn more about what we are doing out there.  You guys have provided me with motivation to make sure I don't let you down, and I certainly hope that I haven't.  Not only do you all deserve thanks for following our procedures and protocol, I also want to thank you for listening to all of my talks about pitching philosophies, coaching philosophies, and even some life philosophies.  I'm sure some of that might get old, but I usually feel it is necessary (and sometimes I just want to listen to myself)!!

To our graduating seniors, Dommer and Dave, congratulations on your outstanding careers.  When a team's best two pitchers also have great, selfless attitudes along with the interpersonal skills to be able to be mentors and friends to younger teammates, the job as the pitching coach is made so much easier than it otherwise would be.

Dommer, you have had one of the greatest four seasons of pitching in the history of Adrian College and the MIAA.  You have 'Dommer'-nated our opponents and have been feared by opposing coaches and hitters both in the MIAA and around the region since you stepped on the field in a Bulldog uniform as a freshman.  Your numbers speak for themselves, but even more impressive to me has been your work ethic and the way you have led by example in so many ways.

Dave, your two years on the mound for us have been the model of consistency.  Your determination to come back and pitch after Tommy John surgery has been a testament to your dedication to rehab and your desire and passion to play the great game of baseball.  You have also, like Dommer, cemented your name into the Adrian College and MIAA record books in just two years of pitching here.  

The way the two of you pitched this season allowed your pitching teammates to see how important it is to get ahead of hitters, get leadoff batters out, and compete with passion in tight games and with runners on base.  Again, I appreciate your leadership and attitudes even more than your abilities!!

For you underclassmen, our work is not finished.  We will have another opportunity next year to compete for championships and improve ourselves (both individually and as a group). Some of you played huge roles and had great success for us this year and are prepared to lead us in 2012.  I thought all of you improved throughout the season, whether you were pitching in varsity or reserve games.  I'm sure Coach Younce would agree that we had some great pitching performances in the reserve games and that is a great sign for you as players and for us as a program.  Again, my thanks goes out to all of you for who you are as people as well as for your commitment to your teammates.

Today is the beginning of our 2012 season.  Even I am going to work out today!!!  Hopefully you will always keep in mind that each day you either get better or worse, and that improving is a choice.  I also hope that I will be able to at least see a few of you pitch this summer.  Be sure to work on all aspects of your pitching, and if the only work you do in the summer is on the days that you pitch (I know how some summer baseball can be), then you might not get better.  You need to work on your bodies, keep your arms healthy (be smart), improve your tempo, your ability to attack the running game, your stamina and arm strength, continue to master your changeups and both fastballs, and be consistent with locating and tightening up your other secondary pitches.  Be sure to continue to let your catchers and defensive teammates know that you appreciate the fact that it is always nine against one and that the team is more important than the individual.

You guys did a great job of accomplishing so many of the goals we set for ourselves back in January.  I consider it a privilege to work with all of you and I value our relationships.  Stay in touch throughout the summer!!

"Control what you can control"......."Sweat the small stuff".........."Business as usual"

Gordie

A little perspective

Now that our regular season has ended, our preparation for the NCAA DIII Regional Tournament continues.  We lost our last two regular season games to Hope College on Tuesday by scores of 3-0 and 4-2.  Nobody likes to lose games, and certainly not two games in one day, but we have to tip our caps to Hope’s players; they out-played us.  That happens in baseball, so we continue to try and become a better team each day, just as we have all season.

The all conference team was announced yesterday and we have six players who earned all-conference, first team honors in the MIAA this year.  We had the pitcher of the year and the player of the year for the third year in a row.  Congratulations to all of the guys and to our one second team all league players.  All of them are well-deserved awards, but I know that each guy would trade personal rewards for team accomplishments!!

Today I attended a funeral in Dearborn for the father of one of my former players at Siena Heights University.  Eric attended with me, as he had gotten to know my players pretty well while he was in his last couple years of high school.  There was a work accident that led to the death of the young 57 year old man.  I never know what the best thing to say is at a time like that, so I told Ryan that I was sorry and that loved him, gave him and his wife, mom and brother big hugs.  The priest at Divine Child did a great job during the funeral.  He said that Frank lived his life, just as God intended for us to do.  He was a friend to many and a great father and husband.

An incident like that can often put things into perspective.  Some people may stress over the loss of a doubleheader, but Ryan and his loved ones have huge holes in their hearts and it is difficult, I’m sure, to fill those holes right now.  Compared to losing baseball games, well, there is no way to compare the two.

The fortunate thing for Ryan and his family is that they have lived their lives knowing that God loves them, and that Frank lived his life as a great example of what God’s love is all about.  He didn’t necessarily verbalize his faith; he lived it.  Ryan’s family will gain in strength because of Frank’s love for them and his faith in the Lord.  Frank shared his faith with all family and friends that he encountered, and he did it completely.

So as far as the Regional Tournament is concerned, if we are to compete, then we must compete completely.  God put us on this earth with other people for a reason.  He didn’t put us here by ourselves.  He gave each of us unique gifts, gifts that are to be shared with others.  Our players can hopefully compete with each other and for each other, sacrificing ego for the good of their teammates, playing for their teammates rather than themselves.

My players don’t know Ryan or Frank, but I want to thank Frank for sharing Ryan with me for a few years, and thank Ryan for giving everything he had for his teammates for four years.  Victories on the field may not be able to be taken away, but the selflessness of teammates carries over for generations, always to be warmly felt and remembered.