Luck?

I dont think so. Thursday we returned to SG after our first game of the Hill Top Tourney. When we got back to the school we saw the JV in the dugout getting ready for practice. Coach F3 and I stayed around to watch and work with the players. One player caught our eye "again" by the way he went about his business. He went after every ball like it was a game situation. He hustled his butt off and you could just tell he wanted it really bad. After the practice we gave him a varsity uniform and told him that he would be with the varsity for Friday and Saturdays games. Friday he did not get in the game other than to run the bags a couple of times. He was up constantly in the dugout pulling for his team mates and he was listening to every word that was said by the coaches. Tonight he got the start in LF and #7 in the order. All he did was make every play on defense. Hit a triple that scored two runs. Hit a single in the bottom of the 7th to lead off the inning with his team down two runs. He went first to third on a single like a bat out of you know where. He simply played the game and got after it.

This kid would have never been with our team Friday or tonight in the championship game if he had not showed us a fire and desire to compete in practice. Sometimes its not so much what you do but how you do it. Tonight this young man got a chance to help his team win. And he delivered in a big way. Its moments like this , seeing a young man get an opportunity that they earned and then having success that makes coaching so rewarding.

His name is Clarence Peace.

 

Now that's what I like to hear.

A kid that really gets after it and gets the job done. Seems like there are too many that don't realize who may be watching and that may have a hand in your destiny...or something like that. I think one of my sons coaches said something like this once or twice. I'll print this and post in the locker room. We have some JV's that have the ability and desire to succeed but they still have the Rec ball-middleschool mentality.

 

Great Post Coach.....
Based on what we read I don't think we have heard the last of Mr. Peace. I'm sure he will be a player to keep an eye on for the future. You gotta love a work ethic and attitude like that!

 

kooch 15, you are SOOO right. On Sat. in the Hilltop Classic there were several college scouts at the fields. There was one kid that was having a pretty good tournament, not great, but solid. He hit slow roller back to the mound and jogged with half effort down the first base line. The pitcher made a throw that brought the 1st baseman off the bag. What would have been a close play turned into an easy out. From the looks on their faces and the way they shook their heads it was quite apparent that the scouts were not pleased with this effort. What do you think their impression is of this kid now?
Young kids need to believe it, "you never know who's watching!"

 

I won't name names..

But..
I saw something earlier this year and a younger player was getting you know what for running too hard and diving for the ball from the older players. It starts with the coach and what the coach expects. You obviously expect something. Our coach corrected the situation but players are a reflection of what they see and the effort of the coach. It's not luck.. it's education.. Great job to your staff.

 

If I'm I'm reading you correctly, I totally agree with you. It's what and how a coach teaches and what he emphasizes.

 

We all...

need to realize that someone is always watchng... our kids, Our Players, parents, Other Coaches. A program is judged in many ways and how we develope kids and handle difficult situations tells alot about the organization or team. i again applaude every coach that pays attention to detail and rewards hard work.. In the end thats what we are teaching... Work Hard and Never Give up.

 

What

I would also like to add here is this young man was cut last year as a freshman from our program. He was not focused. He did not work hard. He had some talent but that is not enough to be a part of a team. After he got cut and several players made the team that he was more talented than he began to realize it was not just about how much talent you have. He wanted to be the team manager for the JV. We let him under the condition that he have a great attitude and do whatever was asked of him. He did just that. This year when he came out for baseball he was a totally different young man. His attitude was outstanding. He was hungry to be a player. Instead of playing afraid he might make a mistake he played with passion and grit looking to make a difference.

I dont know how well he will play the rest of the year. I have no idea if he will get another hit or make another play. But as long as he works his butt off and brings that fire and desire to practice with him he will get a chance to do it again. If this young man had felt sorry for himself or looked to blame others for his "bad luck" he would have never gotten the chance he got last night. If he would have gone through the motions in practice on Friday he would still be on JV and would never been in the game last night.

My point is too much emphasis is put on who can throw harder or hit it the best. Who wants it? Who gets after it? Who is not afraid of failure? Who is willing to do whatever they can do to help their team win? Believe it or not it falls on the players shoulders to step up and show that they want it. Your opportunities you earn are up to you to earn.

Grow up and stop blameing other people for your bad luck. Go out and make some luck for yourself. Ive never met a coach that didnt want to win. Show the coaches that you want to win and are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. No one wants a person on their team that puts themselves ahead of the team. Everyone wants a guy that just goes out there and lets it all hang out and does what he has to do. Be that guy or be quiet.

So lets see. Cut from the JV as a freshman last year. Team manager for the JV as a freshman. Comes out and makes JV as a soph. Plays JV half the year. Shows up at a friday practice and makes a difference in practice with his hustle and attitude. Gets a chance to be on the varsity. Runs the bases twice on Friday. Stays up in the dugout and pulls hard for his team. Gets the start on varsity in the Championship game. Goes 2-3 with a triple and single and makes every play in the outfield. Hmmm.... Sometimes you make your own luck. Good and bad wouldnt you say?

 

One more thing

Clarence Peace never swung a bat during that JV practice Coach 27 described. We decided to spend our time working defensive fundamentals. Only 8 guys showed up for a voluntary JV workout over spring break. Coach 27 and I had never done an entire JV practice this year before and the guys didn't know we'd be there that day. What if Clarence had said, "I'm not working out today...it's voluntary..other guys aren't going." What if he saw it wasn't the fun stuff (BP) that we were emphasizing and went thru the motions? He would never have had the chance to be a key part of his varsity team winning a tournament chapionship. He was in the line-up, though, not because he raked in BP when a coach was watching, but because of the grit and intensity he brought to a voluntary JV workout. We thought he might give us a shot in the arm, and sure enough, he did. How many lessons can we all learn from this?

 

I got it

If it comes from you guys it has to be good.