This Small-Town Program Won 7 State Titles

The player is loading ...

Send us a text A small-town program doesn’t stumble into seven state titles and five Hall of Famers by chance. We sit down with coaches shaped by Coldwater, Ohio and the late legend Lou Brunswick to unpack how a people-first culture, simple fundamentals, and joyful competition built a winning standard that still travels across the state. The stories are rich: Lou treating the star and the 16th man the same, scheduling bigger schools without apology, and yes—calling squeeze from a bus with a t...

Send us a text

A small-town program doesn’t stumble into seven state titles and five Hall of Famers by chance. We sit down with coaches shaped by Coldwater, Ohio and the late legend Lou Brunswick to unpack how a people-first culture, simple fundamentals, and joyful competition built a winning standard that still travels across the state. The stories are rich: Lou treating the star and the 16th man the same, scheduling bigger schools without apology, and yes—calling squeeze from a bus with a turn signal after getting tossed. The lessons run deeper than trophies: build trust, respect every role, and keep it loose so players compete free.

We trace coaching paths that started as bat boys and Pony League mentors, ran through pro ball and college, and returned to high school dugouts with a clear blueprint. You’ll hear why fundamentals still beat flash—clean relays, timely bunts, strike-throwing, and disciplined base running—and how that approach turns teenagers into resilient teammates. We also tackle the modern game: coach-to-catcher and coach-to-pitcher communication, where tech can sharpen tempo and decision-making without stealing leadership from the field.

Then comes the debate every spring stirs up: should Ohio shift to double elimination or best-of-three at the district level? With turf fields and tighter schedules, these coaches argue baseball deserves a format that rewards depth and consistency, not just a single dominant arm. Through it all, the thread is human: fathers and sons balancing love and standards, the sting of losses that teach more than wins, and the quiet satisfaction of doing things the right way every day.

If you value clear teaching, culture that lasts, and stories that make you grin on the way to practice, you’ll feel at home here. Subscribe, share with a coaching friend, and leave a quick review telling us your take: double-elim or best-of-three?

Support the show

Follow: Twitter | Instagram @Athlete1Podcast
Website - https://www.athlete1.net
Sponsor: The Netting Professionals
https://www.nettingpros.com

Chapters

00:00 - Setting The Stage And Intros

01:44 - Coldwater’s Hall Of Fame Lineage

02:55 - Lessons From Lou: Player Perspectives

08:20 - Growing Up Brunswick: Family And Foundations

12:24 - Coaching Paths Sparked By Coldwater

17:00 - Fundamentals Over Flash: Program Values

22:30 - Positives In Today’s High School Game

26:15 - What Should Change In Ohio Baseball

31:00 - Funniest And Fondest Lou Stories

38:10 - Father–Son Dynamics And Standards

42:30 - Hate Losing Or Love Winning

47:30 - Closing Shoutouts And Goodbye

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:03.439
Hello and welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:05.120
I'm your host, Coach Ken Carpenter.

00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:10.880
And today I got a Hall of Fame group of coaches together.

00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:19.039
And uh I would like to start off uh rather than uh uh me introducing who's going to be on the show, Mark.

00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:28.960
First off, I gotta say congrats for you being inducted into the OHS BCA, which here is Ohio, uh Hall of Fame.

00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:38.079
Uh and if you could to set the stage here for today's show, you kind of introduce the coaches since you know these guys very well.

00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:44.640
Yeah, it it was probably a couple weeks ago I reached out uh to all of them here.

00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:52.000
And I wanted to do it after the the effect of the uh clinic and so forth.

00:00:52.799 --> 00:01:08.640
But uh I got thinking, you know, and Co-Water now has five, five guys, Lou Brunswick, Trent Deuce, Brian Harlem, Greg Wilker, and myself that are in the Hall of Fame now.

00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:16.959
And I I really think, and you guys step in and correct me if I'm wrong on it, I really think that is a an Ohio record.

00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:21.599
I thought it was important that we get everybody together.

00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:43.280
And so what I did is I reached out to them, Kenny, and see if we could set a time to get everybody on at a given time and talk about our years going all the way from Coldwater to where it took us to our present-day job and school, and just talk baseball.

00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:44.879
Well, sounds good.

00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:51.200
Well, you guys all played for the legendary Lou Brunswick at Cold Water High School in Ohio.

00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:58.719
And tell me about your experience as a player playing for Coach Brunswick, and we'll start off.

00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.159
Let's just start with Trent.

00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.000
Let's just start with Trent.

00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:10.000
Um Well, I had an interesting history because I actually didn't play, I only played two years.

00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.560
Uh I played my sophomore in my senior year.

00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:20.560
Um, I thought I was gonna be the next John Lway, so I was focusing on football, and then I realized I wasn't Lway.

00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:25.360
Um so, but Louis, um Louie Clinton.

00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:35.680
You know, first of all, Louie Louie was uh I appreciate Louie letting me play my senior year because he was all over me my junior year to play, and I was just I didn't want I was just hooked on football.

00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:41.840
And and I know he was he was not happy with me, but he did uh his senior year, he let me play, and it was a great experience.

00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.159
We won the state title our senior year.

00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:48.960
Um but um but uh but I learned a lot from Lou.

00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.039
I I actually grew up with the Brunswick household.

00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:55.520
Jeff's my age, me and Jeff were buddies from the get-go, and so I kind of grew up in the house.

00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.039
So um I learned baseball from a very young age.

00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:04.879
I I guess I learned the importance of baseball because it was a big deal in their household, and I was there all the time.

00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:08.719
Um, so I I learned uh a lot growing up through the years.

00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.919
I mean, you could you name it.

00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:14.960
I mean, how to throw, how to hit, and you know, your mentality and so on and so forth.

00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:23.039
But uh, you know, just just I I you don't have enough hours to sit here and let me tell you everything that that that Lou taught me.

00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.919
So well, Coach uh Coach Greg Wilford, what tell me a little bit about it.

00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:39.280
Well, I was a 1979 graduate, and uh I was the youngest of seven, and so Coach Brunswick, he knew our family very well, and my parents had the the utmost respect for him.

00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:43.280
And uh Coach Brunswick was he was more than a he was more than a teacher and a coach for me.

00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.280
He was he was a true father figure.

00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:50.800
My father passed away when I was in second grade, so he was a outstanding role model for me.

00:03:50.960 --> 00:04:03.759
Um so I just had a great experience playing for him, and just the lessons that I learned from him, you know, I I tried to uh take through my my years of coaching, you know, and and some of the main lessons work ethic.

00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:09.840
You know, I watch him, and you know, when you're 16, 17 years old, you really don't understand how hard the person is working at it.

00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:13.759
But once I started teaching and coaching myself, I'm thinking, how did Coach Brunswick do that?

00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:22.720
You know, he would drive a morning bus route, you know, he he was coach all teach all day, coach all day, and then he'd he would drive us to the game, and it was just amazing.

00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.000
You know, so that's a big thing.

00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:27.120
But the work ethic, and he just he treated everyone the same.

00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:33.120
You know, it didn't matter if you were the best player or if you were the 16th best player, you know, he treated everyone with respect.

00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.839
And those were some of the valuable lessons I learned from Coach Brunswick.

00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.519
And I think that's the reason we're all here today.

00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:40.639
Yes.

00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.199
Well, Mark, you were in the house, so what's that?

00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.800
Well, you you were in the house.

00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.600
You grew up with him as your dad.

00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:58.639
Yeah, it um just going off of what those guys said, you know, and I always go back to a thing that that Trent said a couple years ago.

00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:08.560
And I think this is important with all of us because I I think it's why the foundation of Coldwater Baseball still goes on and on and on.

00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:12.560
Um is because uh Trent made the comment.

00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:35.279
The thing that stands out about your dad is uh is what I took to Van W Butler, what what these other guys took to the other schools too is the idea of uh he wanted you to learn baseball and he wanted to excel, he wanted to win, but the biggest thing he wanted you to be was yourself.

00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:46.639
He wanted you to be yourself, whoever that may be, and fall within the parameters of the program and you know go out and have some fun.

00:05:46.800 --> 00:06:00.879
And and and two of the biggest things that really gets me with dad is is is the relationship and the care that I personally felt with him, with all his players and so forth.

00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.560
We all had the ultimate goal.

00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:07.680
We never went around the the school saying we're gonna win a state title.

00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:13.759
We always knew that that was always a plan because it was cool water, that's what you strive for.

00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:18.160
But it was just the magical experience we had.

00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:27.600
It was just something you had to experience because uh baseball was was was life and it was it was a great deal.

00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.959
Well, Aaron, you're you're here representing your dad.

00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:41.279
Um did did your dad talk to you about his experiences with coach Lou Brunswick?

00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:42.720
Um, yeah, a little bit.

00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:49.199
Uh I know just hearing stories of Lou from my dad or from anyone around Cold Water, there was great things.

00:06:49.360 --> 00:07:00.079
Uh kind of like they said, kind of like my dad kind of learned from Lou and kind of in his coaching style, a lot of it had to do with relationships um with your own coaching staff and with the players.

00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.879
I think building that relationship and that trust um in everyone.

00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:11.839
Uh I think that's was a big thing that my dad took from Lou, uh playing underneath him and winning some state titles with Lou.

00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:34.560
And I think that seems like a lot of us here learning from Lou and then so on, like that's how programs are kind of built relationships, the foundation, some of those core values that Lou definitely um instilled in all of you guys, then my dad, and obviously down to me, and even Coach Clinky, uh now the head coach at Coldwater, a lot of those things, um, just are still in the programs.

00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:38.720
Um I knew of Lou a little bit, uh uh, but not too much.

00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.879
But yeah, he definitely had some stories of Lou.

00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:46.079
How he coached was kind of how my dad then learned how to become a coach and learned from Louis.

00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.639
So that's just a great thing to see with everyone's day.

00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:50.399
So I'd like to read it stuff.

00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.639
If I could, I'll just have a test down edit for it.

00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:00.720
If everybody, if you could just check your volume and make sure it's not turned all the way up.

00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:05.279
If you can just take it down a couple ticks, sometimes that it creates that echo.

00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.120
I don't know if you guys are answering.

00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:09.759
It's too loud.

00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:16.160
Yeah, a little bit too loud, but yeah.

00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:16.879
Okay.

00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.879
Is that better?

00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:20.480
Yeah, I think it is.

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:21.680
Yes.

00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:22.240
Okay.

00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.319
Well, uh, Tom Brunswick.

00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:39.039
You're in the uh you're in the middle of the screen here, and you are the uh person that's stepping in to represent your dad.

00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:47.759
Tell me about that experience growing up with your dad and what he's what he taught you about the game of baseball.

00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:50.320
Okay.

00:08:50.559 --> 00:09:00.000
Well, I can speak for Tom as Lou's son and playing for him, and then I can speak for what Lou might say about what the three gentlemen have uh just talked about.

00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:05.759
Uh being dad's son, um it was an honor to play for dad.

00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:12.240
Um we never felt never felt the pressure of playing for dad when he was coaching.

00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.360
That's who he was.

00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.559
He was our coach.

00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.679
And when we came home, that's who he was, was a dad.

00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:21.360
And we never talked about the game very much when we came home.

00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.440
Once we came home, the game was over.

00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:24.960
We never really talked about it.

00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:26.879
He went his way, I went my way.

00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:29.200
And then the next day we did the same thing.

00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:31.919
So um, it was an honor to play for dad.

00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.600
Um, it was a privilege.

00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:38.559
We set high standards in the 70s, graduated in 76.

00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.159
We wanted to win the state.

00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:41.519
We never did.

00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:46.080
We made it to the district in the regionals a few times or never made the state.

00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:53.519
It wasn't until Mark uh in 83 and 84, his teams won the state back to back, and then Jeff in 87.

00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:59.440
And I was so proud for them, as proud of them as it as we would have won it.

00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:03.919
So we didn't get to win it, but uh, hopefully we raised the bar pretty high.

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:20.399
And those guys, they stormed right through, they won back to back, and then they won it in 87 again, so um we didn't get a chance to win it, but um, we are so proud of uh brothers, and I'll never forget the smile on dad's face when he won it in '83, and then again in '84.

00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.679
Huge smile.

00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:27.759
You know, it was 25 years before he won a state title, before his teams won a state title.

00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:33.120
There were many times he was telling me, I'm not gonna coach you because it's too tough when you lose.

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:38.159
And I'm sure all the coaches here have felt that feeling when you lose that last game.

00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:44.720
It's like, wow, we put all this in here, and sometimes you lose a close game, could have gone either way.

00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:48.159
That the feeling the next three days is just tough.

00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:51.120
And I remember he told me, I'm never gonna coach you, Tom.

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:52.080
I said, What?

00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.679
Yeah, I was only nine years old.

00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.279
He said, Yeah, I'm not gonna coach you.

00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:00.799
Well, three days later, he's telling me uh let's go ready season now.

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.879
Playing for dad was um an honor.

00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.919
It was fun.

00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:11.279
It was better when you went two for four and won the game than you went 0 for 4 and lost.

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.440
But uh regardless, there's ups and downs with that.

00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:30.799
And I would say this as speaking for Lou, to all the coaches here that um have uh Aaron Tech, Coldwater, Mark and Del Fountain for the most part, Greg at Millbury Lake, and Trent at uh Vandalia, their programs are extension of what dad would have done.

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.440
He'd be very proud of uh all three of you.

00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.360
All four of you guys.

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:40.399
Um he would say, Yep, you guys are doing it the way we would do it.

00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.039
Because I'll tell you, they're about relationships.

00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.879
They relate to the kids first before they're baseball players.

00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:54.480
That's one thing dad did was um he he knew the players before he knew what what they could do on the baseball field.

00:11:54.639 --> 00:12:02.879
Um, he built trust with them, he knew them as as people, and then uh, you know, they're a person first, then a second baseman, then a short stuff.

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:07.679
He built long-lasting relationships, and I thought was the the best thing he did.

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:12.159
And all the coaches on on this board right here have done the same thing.

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.919
They got relationships that go on and on and on forever.

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.720
So we would be proud of all the coaches here.

00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:25.200
And uh to have five guys that played at Coldwater and then on the Hall of Fame feels special to him.

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:43.360
Definitely well let me ask you, Coach, the um did your experience playing at Coldwater as a baseball player uh play any sort of role in you becoming a baseball coach?

00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.679
Is that for me, Ken?

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:50.559
Uh coach Coach uh Trent.

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.200
Oh, absolutely.

00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:59.200
Yeah, I mean, uh so when I went to college, you know, they asked me my major, I said eligibility.

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.600
And uh then I had to come up with a real answer at some point.

00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:11.279
And uh so I um like I said, I I grew up, I grew up really at the Brunswick House.

00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:12.639
My a lot of my youth was there.

00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.679
I mean, it's what I knew.

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:26.960
And then my first couple years of college, I played at Bowling Green, and we never made a lot of tournament runs at BG, so we'd be done kind of early, and I'd come home and I'd always throw BP for Louie because they were always deep in the tournament.

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.440
And I guess it just kind of grew on me, you know.

00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.679
And uh, so I decided that's what I wanted to do.

00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:33.440
So yeah, it had a huge impact on me.

00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.679
I teach solar space kind of like Louie did.

00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:38.799
Um so um without a doubt.

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:44.240
And and I'm gonna add to what Mark said about I I always remember this.

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:50.960
We always had fun, like Louis always had fun, and and I coached with Tom and for the Mariners, man, we had fun.

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:55.120
Like Tommy had fun, like he he it wasn't a stress thing, man.

00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:02.080
He could always lighten the mood to get you to play in that mode um where you're not, you know, your sphincter's not too tight.

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:04.320
And uh I and Louie always did that.

00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.000
We would laugh, we just always laugh.

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.679
There's always something to laugh at.

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.039
I just I always remember that.

00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:12.159
Just keep it loose, you know, don't take it too seriously.

00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:16.399
We were all serious competitors, but there, you know, there's got to be a fine line there.

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.360
So that that was another big thing I I got.

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.360
Coach Wilker.

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:27.919
Yeah, just uh piggyback what Trent said, you know, just uh Coach Brunswick, it was about embracing that competition.

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:36.159
You know, he he loved to compete, you know, and that's a big thing I always try to get across uh to my players, you know, enjoy the competition, you know, win or lose.

00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.559
You know, the other thing I want to talk about was just the tradition.

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.679
You know, I got into coaching.

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:48.639
I remember Coach Brunswick came to me because I'd I was working uh locally, and uh he said, Coach, he goes, uh Greg, why don't you why don't you why don't you coach a pony league team?

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.320
And Mark may remember this.

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.240
Mark's uh is between us.

00:14:52.799 --> 00:15:00.480
We had two pony league teams, and a couple of my buddies coached Mark's team, and a couple myself and a couple of other buddies, we coached the other team.

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:07.200
And uh that was a very talented, very coachable group, obviously, because they went on and won back-to-back championships a few years later.

00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:22.000
And I I was hooked on coaching at that point because I just I love that group of kids, you know, and and I just remember competing as I'm not if Mark remembers this, but I can still remember Mark when we played our team played you guys, and and we we ran a squeeze play and beat you guys.

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:25.440
I can't remember who was pitching, but you were catching and you were pretty fired up.

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.639
And your dad goes, Mark, they they beat you fair and square.

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.120
Well, several years later, we're playing.

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:35.519
I brought my team down from Lake High School, and I had a pretty good team then.

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:40.240
And one of my players hit a three-run homer to tie it up in the in the seventh or top of the seventh.

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.200
Coach Brunswick beats us in the bottom of the seventh with a squeeze play.

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.320
You know, he just looks at me in the dugout and just flashes that grin, you know.

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:54.159
And so he that's like but uh a lot of a lot of great memories, you know, just that tradition, and and I hope they continue passing on down.

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.559
Well, Mark, you were uh you know, playing for your dad.

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:02.720
Did that have uh influence on you becoming a baseball coach?

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.879
Uh Tom and I didn't have a chance.

00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.080
Yeah, we had to.

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.679
No, I'm just kidding.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.559
I'm kidding.

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.519
Yeah.

00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:27.600
Honestly, with all that, um I went, Kenny, it's interesting because I didn't know where my coaching career was gonna go because I got drafted by the Mets in '84.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:32.879
And and I'm I'm not, you know, I I face it straight on.

00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:36.320
My years of professional baseball, I went in the third round.

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:43.440
I was pretty good uh coming out of high school and everything, but uh my professional days weren't that good.

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.960
Uh it was a rough life, it was a rough go for me.

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:59.919
And um I know I spent I I know I spent a couple years there just trying to find a job, hopefully get through four years of of college and see once where that went.

00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:08.000
So the coaching stuff uh was was a byproduct of what my years with Pro Bowl was.

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:11.519
And I just that was my only way to stay in the game.

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:24.960
And so I wanted to give back a little bit in regards to you know my knowledge that I had with kids, but because of my experience there, my time was a little bit longer getting into coaching.

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:30.079
My first year of coaching was at the year of 29, I was 29 years old.

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:41.440
So um, you know, it wasn't coaching right away because I I truly thought I was gonna be uh a big league player at one given time.

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:47.759
Obviously didn't work out, and so I had a couple years there where I was I was trying to find myself.

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.599
Makes sense.

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:52.960
Well, Tom, what what are your thoughts?

00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:03.839
I also was drafted uh out of high school, not as high as Mark was, but I was drafted.

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:08.160
So I got a chance, and um once I got the chance, I took it.

00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:12.720
And uh as Mark mentioned, the minor league days are tough.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.039
You're gone for six straight months.

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:23.359
Back then there's no cell phones, no way to connect it no way home, there's no phone boost at 7:30 on Saturday night, all collect.

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.119
That's how I talked to my parents.

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.240
I wrote letters.

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:34.799
Uh but I my dad told me if and when you sign, you are gonna go to college.

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.319
And I said, Well, I'll take your advice on that, Dad.

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.480
But you know, I think I'm gonna be a big leader, like we all think we're gonna be.

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:51.200
But let me tell you, once I showed up at the spring training, there's a pretty good ball players, not only in America, but uh the other countries too.

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:55.440
Venezuela and Puerto Rico and Dominican, we know where they come from.

00:18:55.519 --> 00:19:01.359
I mean, they're they're very good ball players, so I thought, oh boy, I better go to college, and I'm glad I did.

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.839
That's the best advice dad ever gave me.

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:10.079
It's the best thing I ever did because by the time I was released for the third time, I had a college degree.

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.480
It's like, go ahead and release me, I'll just go teach.

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:19.359
And I was ready to I was ready to do something regular, you know, outside of a Pro Bowl after doing it for seven or eight years.

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:26.240
So as I was playing, I tried to learn as much as I could about the game.

00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.799
About what would be good for a high school player.

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.839
What's good?

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.759
What would help them win?

00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:38.720
Well, you know, I probably learned more from my dad than I did any of those pro coaches.

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:47.359
The pro coaches, you know, they're more focused on the high draft picks, they're they're they're but I learned more from my dad.

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:54.720
And maybe it wasn't on the field, but I learned how to treat people, treat them as uh respectful.

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.359
It doesn't matter if he's the best player or the 16th best player, best player.

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:04.559
You treat them all the same, and you win as a team and you lose as a team.

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.599
So I thought uh maybe I'll try coaching.

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:24.079
So I started coaching a little JB over at Salina and uh did that and coached the Grand Lake Mariners for 12 years, um, the head coach a few of those years, I at least 10 of them, and then coached Cower Acme 23 years.

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.920
So a lot of different levels.

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:35.680
But uh, you know, speaking for dad to the coaches on this panel here today, he would say just keep it simple.

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:48.319
It's not about exit level, it's not about radar, it's about feeling the ball, doing fundamentals, throwing strikes, getting the butt down, getting the relay, making plays.

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:54.880
Many times when he coached teams, we might not have the best looking uniform.

00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:03.039
The other teams in the other uniform might have looked better and stronger, bigger and stronger.

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:10.079
But the kids in the co-uniforms always look better at final metals and always had discipline for the game.

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.039
A lot of times the cavaliers have a three, the other team had to be two.

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.079
You had to beat it.

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.160
You had to beat the colour cavaliers.

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:25.440
Um mistakes they happen.

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:34.319
Discipline, fundamentals, keep it fun, a lot of passion.

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:42.400
Set your goals high and uh you know, if the state turned win the win the MAC, you know, sure.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.279
Uh but the the goal is always to win the state.

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:52.559
And it's seven times we've done that for uh it's a lot of years going on too, but they still don't win.

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.319
It's hard, it's really hard.

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:57.519
You know, it's just thankful for getting seven state titles.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.279
But I would say this one, Dad.

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:03.839
Um When the season starts, he doesn't just say, guys, this year we'll win an estate.

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.079
He coaches every team the same.

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.960
You start from day one and just build blocks.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.160
One day at a time.

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.759
Try to get better each day.

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.039
You know, be a be a be a good teammate.

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.559
Do what it takes to win.

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.480
Don't worry about individual awards.

00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.240
Let's do this as a team.

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:23.839
And I'd say all the coaches on this panel exactly, exactly.

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.799
And coach Harlan exactly the same way.

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.240
You'd be very proud.

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:43.839
Well, Aaron, you were uh currently coaching there at Coldwater, and you know, I guess you know, I I I have to ask you, the uh you're you played in Coldwater, correct?

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.799
Yes, yep.

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:49.599
So did that play a role in you becoming a coach?

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.799
Yeah, I definitely did.

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:57.759
Um growing up uh with my dad being the head coach ever since I was one, I think was actually the first year he was the head coach.

00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:03.119
Um being a bat boy all those years, just seeing how he coached just the program in general.

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:09.279
Um I just kind of fell in love with baseball, sports, all sports really I played, but like baseball is my favorite.

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:16.640
I think by the time I played with him for the those four years, uh by the time my senior year came around, I kind of had an idea.

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.599
I was going to play baseball at Sinclair, uh JUCO.

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:30.799
Um, but I knew, I mean, I wasn't going big leagues like the Runswick over here, but I kind of had an idea that I wanted to coach, so I was gonna go into education uh and then eventually coaching.

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:36.079
And then while I was in college, uh my dad kind of gave me those first opportunities.

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:39.920
I started coaching Pony League for my brother, my younger brother Evan.

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:42.400
Um two years of pony.

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:46.400
Uh and then as he got into high school there, I also coached him junior acne.

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:52.079
Um so those are kind of my getting my feet wet in the coaching uh world over here at Coldwater.

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.359
Um loved it.

00:23:53.519 --> 00:24:07.839
And then obviously, with me going to school for education, uh, once I moved back home from college, uh I became part of the staff over at Coldwater, coaching JV uh for two years there uh while my dad was still the head coach.

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:15.599
And then eventually, uh now recently it'll be my fourth year uh with the Varsity staff under Coach Clint East since my dad passed.

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:35.119
Uh but yeah, I think just coaching, uh playing under my dad, coaching with my dad there a little bit, and obviously um just the program in general definitely led me uh to wanting to coach and being with the kids and seeing those relationships um develop and how relationships with players can go a long ways.

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:40.960
I remember growing up and my dad's former players would come up to him at whatever event, where we were.

00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:44.160
My dad kind of knew everybody, and a part of that was through coaching.

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:49.920
A lot of people from Coldwater played for him, came back to Coldwater, and knew him as Coach Harlemer.

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:54.720
I think that was a big thing to me that I'd love to see, uh, and I want to be part of that.

00:24:54.799 --> 00:25:04.400
So that definitely core to baseball under my dad, and obviously Lou starting it uh with the program definitely led me to this trajectory to coach who I am today.

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.559
Well, I I got a two-part question.

00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:20.400
What would one change you would like to see in high school baseball and a positive that you take away from the game today?

00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.519
And we'll go back to you, uh, Coach Deuce.

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:41.119
Um the positive is uh, you know, just despite all the travel ball that's going on um today, I I think there's there's still a lot of of heart and soul that goes into to high school baseball.

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:45.680
I think there kids are are they they're sold out in spring.

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.319
They really are.

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:48.319
And it's a and it's different than summer ball.

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:51.279
It's more of a it's more of a team attitude.

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:55.119
Um and you're you're playing in front of fans.

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:58.160
You know, sometimes you get sometimes you get some nice crowds.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.480
You don't really get that a lot of that in summer ball.

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:13.519
Um and it and I think it teaches it teaches kids how to it's more of a college attitude because you're going to class um and you're playing ball and you're representing your school um and you're representing your you know your community.

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:17.519
Um so I I still think it's it's there's a lot of positives in that.

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:23.359
And um, so I still think it's a big deal, despite you know, the the rise of of travel ball.

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:25.680
Um what was the other part of the question, Ken?

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:28.079
Uh change what you would like to think.

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.359
Oh, changes.

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:33.519
Uh I mean the only thing I'd really I think they've made a lot of good changes.

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:39.359
Um I I think once you get to the district round of tournament, it should be it should be a double elimination.

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:41.519
Um a lot of states do that.

00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:47.519
Um I I'd like to see I I think it's possible, especially now with all the turf fields.

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:50.880
You know, I know they're worried about rainouts, you know, and there's not enough time.

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.440
There is enough time now with all the turf fields.

00:26:53.599 --> 00:27:00.880
There's enough around to to do it, um, where you can play a best two out of three and uh and you can do it in a three, four-day period.

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.279
Um so I I'd like to see that.

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:05.119
That's one change I'd like to see in Ohio.

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:13.359
Once you get past, you know, get past the section all round, um, you get to the districts, and I think that'd be a cool thing.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:20.559
Well, Coach Walker, you uh uh what is the positive you'd like that you've noticed and what would you like to see change?

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:25.039
Definitely positive would be the uh quality of coaches.

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:28.480
Uh up in northwest Ohio here, the coaching was just incredible.

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:42.720
I think we played numerous trips to the state from the streets uh between Ferrisburg, Maumee, and so on.

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.680
So they're probably coaching outstanding.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.960
I believe it's like crackmark seven, like crackmark seven.

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:55.920
Correct.

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.559
Yeah, yeah.

00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:01.119
Yeah, whereas if you're gonna never win flip away.

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:04.960
So I hope it just doesn't be close to five.

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:11.839
Mark, how do you feel about this?

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:20.400
Well, on the well, on the button, just denominating with the rest of the guys on the positive stuff.

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:25.279
Yeah, it's um the kids are committed.

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:30.799
They they really are are are committed, like Trent said, to start the spring and so forth.

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:37.519
There's just a lot more dynamics for the kids nowadays, uh, a lot more opportunities and so forth.

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:47.359
Um kids can practice as long as they want to want to and so forth game.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.480
Not negative, but things that change.

00:28:53.599 --> 00:29:04.240
Would be I like the idea of what you talked about, but maybe like if we reach a lot of Windows series, maybe two about three, something like that, a little bit.

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:07.119
And I think discuss that quite a bit.

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:20.079
Um, how do you feel about it?

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.960
Oh, as a positive, oh, there's so many.

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.920
There's so many.

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:36.160
Uh Greg mentioned uh the the quality of coaches is is tremendous.

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:42.480
Um I've been to the State Clinic the last two years, last year when Trent Gun Inducted and this year when Market.

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:58.640
And uh it's amazing the the amount of good coaches there are, and uh which is so important because um you know it's it's up to them and the next generation to pass it on.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:04.799
We gotta keep the game going and uh to pass it on from one generation to another.

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.839
Uh to some they might say it's a slow game.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:17.920
Well, it's not if you look at all the things that happened between the pitches and uh do the things right, and the coaches need to keep making it fun, keep making it important.

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.359
Great coaching.

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:25.680
Um speaking for my dad, you know, back in when he started, maybe that's the case, not the case.

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:32.799
I know um some coaches uh back then maybe just did it because they needed a coach.

00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:35.039
Um, you know, it's a stipend.

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:39.680
Uh not always, but uh there's a lot of good coaches in this area.

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.920
There's a lot of good coaches statewide.

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:45.279
There's a lot of good coaches all over the place.

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.319
Um I think it's good and competitive.

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.960
I love uh the the competition in the spring.

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.359
The seven divisions is good.

00:30:53.759 --> 00:31:02.559
Um it gives you know it gives everyone a chance, especially in the upper level, which Trent was doing it.

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:08.160
You know, that it was not fair for him to play that some of the schools are three to four times larger than them.

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:12.000
Um I think it's a great game.

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:17.839
I'm okay with the changes that they made, and I don't think that they need to make a lot of change.

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:26.640
Speaking for my daddy, uh what he probably to know it probably wants to work.

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:51.519
I remember the change growth in 35, 32, and 34, 38 and when you square one, we all need that sound that I would say you would like to get, but unfortunately, you know, there's sometimes when I chose that.

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:57.440
You know, I like the ten in the game.

00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:02.000
I like that's going to gap a little bit more.

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:06.160
Um, but that's not going to happen easier for something we can do.

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.839
But I think it's a great game.

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.759
I don't think we need to do too much with it.

00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:12.880
If Daddy was here today, I think you'd say the same.

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.640
You know, the kids count as anything.

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:19.759
Um you know, I don't think we need to do too much.

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.880
It's a great game.

00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.319
Let's let's keep going.

00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:33.440
Well, excuse me, Aaron, um you're the young guy on this panel, and uh, you know, what is there a change that you would like to see?

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:36.640
And is there some positive a positive that you've noticed?

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:40.559
Um, going off positives, uh, really agree with what Trent said at the start.

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:52.960
Um the just the spring game, the high school teams, I think there's definitely value in some, especially this area of the programs that really invest into the spring ball and not as much into that select travel ball.

00:32:53.200 --> 00:33:02.000
I know that's a big thing uh kind of now, and that's kind of more of a negative, I would say, would be the select ball, especially at a youth age, but I get the high school level.

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.519
But just the spring ball.

00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:08.000
I think the competition is great, uh, especially in the school that's really value it.

00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:10.319
Uh it means a lot to schools.

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:18.319
Uh, I know, like Coldwater and Lake and Vendelia, um, and you get those atmospheres uh at Veterans Field in a big league game, and it means a lot.

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:22.480
It leads me a lot to the community, and I think the kids see that as well.

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:30.160
Um, other positives recently that they've changed, uh, I know like the technology now that they're using uh with in-game.

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:36.960
I know we used it at Coldwater the last couple years with the coach to catcher communication.

00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:41.920
Uh some people might not love it because catchers don't have to call games anymore.

00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:48.160
But uh sorry to tell you, even if a catcher's going to college, the college coach is still calling a lot of the games.

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:54.480
I know I caught in college about eight years ago, and my pitching coach, uh Essen Claire, was still calling games.

00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:00.559
So I mean you could say some people don't agree with that, and now they're doing the the coach to catcher and pitcher.

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:07.359
Um I think coaches can definitely take a benefit from being able to talk to the pitcher kind of in your ear.

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.880
I know it's a trial this year.

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:17.440
I know it's something that we're gonna try to implement, and that's something I think Coach Clinky should have to figure out how much can I talk to this pitcher compared to that pitcher.

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:20.559
Like, can he handle him and my him and my his ear?

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.920
And like, how much can I say?

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:24.000
Am I just gonna call pitches for this pitcher?

00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:30.400
Can I tell him, hey, you're not talking your glove, you need to stride out more, like you need to slow down, like just the pace as well.

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:32.800
Some of those things I think are beneficial.

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:41.119
Um and I know they're doing the whole the second or the first base, having the running base next year in Ohio, uh like the orange base or whatnot.

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:43.760
Um, some people don't love it, some people do.

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:45.199
I'm indifferent about it.

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:49.679
Um, I think in the end it's gonna avoid, I guess, more injuries if you see that.

00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:52.480

This Small-Town Program Won 7 State Titles—Here’s Why It Worked