Don't miss this one...TBR Interview--Coach Bagwell, Ardrey Kell

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Bags is a good guy and Coach! Tell him I said so!

 

This interview was done before winning the 4A State Championship @ AK

 

I think I might have told this story once before on this board some years ago; so, apologies to those of you for whom it is not new. However, this thread seems to warrant telling it again.

Coach Bagwell was responsible for one of the most memorable moments ever for this baseball parent. It was the On Deck O's' first summer, and Coach Bagwell was coaching the 15-year-old age group.

One hot summer day, we found ourselves playing for the USSSA state championship against a rival local team. In an intensely-contested game, we led 2-1 after 6 innings, and my son had pitched those first 6 innings for us.

As soon as the 6th inning concluded, Coach Bagwell left the dugout and, much to my surprise, came over to where I was standing next to the fence. Not knowing him very well at the time, I had no idea what he'd say.

He came close enough to me that no one else could hear and said, "Mr. Woodard, it might seem hard to believe today, but your son is going to have the opportunity to pitch in much bigger and more important games before he he's done as a player. We want to help make sure that he gets the opportunity. He's reached the pitch count we set for starting pitchers in that last inning; so, we're going to take him out."

I barely had time to say "thank you" before he was back in the dugout.

As a parent, there's little more that you can ask than that a coach is looking out for your son's best interests; whether it's on or off the field. I'd begun that particular day already with a high regard for Coach Bagwell. That short exchange elevated him to a very special level in my book.

Many thanks to Coach Bagwell for the guidance and leadership he's shown my son and countless others over the years.