(#100) I know we were coaching them when they were 19 or 20 years old and "daddy" had coached him since potty training, but we can do it. I promise. I always enjoyed the pre-season parent's meeting. D.M. Howie told me this one time, "Do what I do. When I would see "that" parent heading … Continue reading Parent’s Meeting
Month: February 2022
The Universal Rule of Baseball
(#99) Josh Rodriguez, #23, Hinds Community College Eagles (Photo Credit: Hinds Sports Information) Spring has sprung and baseball season is in full bloom. And as the teams try to establish their game plans for the season, here are some tips. It’s been said that pitching and defense are 90% of the game, but think about … Continue reading The Universal Rule of Baseball
Phantom Infield
(#98) Phantom baseball infield-practice creates a fun time for ballplayers, and an even more fun time for fans, when done correctly. What is phantom baseball infield-practice? It is the simplest infield practice in the world, as there is no baseball used. That’s right! Everything is “make believe,” which is a blast, because players use their … Continue reading Phantom Infield
Hinds’ First State Championship in 37 Years – 35 Years Ago
(#97) I went to Hinds over 39 years ago with the dream of winning championships. In our third season in 1986, we won the South Division Championship and advanced to the state playoffs only to get knocked off by East Mississippi, 4-0 and 3-2 in 10 innings; two great pitching duels. We won 24 south … Continue reading Hinds’ First State Championship in 37 Years – 35 Years Ago
Field(s) of Dreams
(#96) Yesterday was the 2022 home opener for Hinds at Joe G. Moss Field in Raymond. The weather was perfect and the field looked great. Got a post on Facebook from Stirling Madden, a teammate of mine when we both played on the 1973 team when Hinds reinstated baseball for the first time since 1958. … Continue reading Field(s) of Dreams
The Chase is on for the Mississippi JUCOs
(#95) 1989 Hinds Eagles The 2022 JUCO baseball season is underway. And the race is on for the NJCAA Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. Part of the dream of going to Hinds in the fall of 1982 was to build a program that would win championships and do some things that no other … Continue reading The Chase is on for the Mississippi JUCOs
My First Magnolia Academy Team – 1977
(#94) The 2022 baseball season has begun. Forty-five years ago in 1977, I began my coaching career as a 22 year old gunslinger at Magnolia Academy located in West Jackson. The 30 man roster included six seniors: Richard Kelly, Barry Jones, Billy Williams, Al Puckett, Mark Brown, and Randy Williams. 6 juniors: Robby Stevens, Phil … Continue reading My First Magnolia Academy Team – 1977
Roast Moose
(#93) I found a classic old video tape of a Roast of Bill "Moose" Perry done back in the 1980's to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis organization. The event was held at one of the old motels in off Ellis Avenue around Highway 80; can't remember if it was the old Best Western or … Continue reading Roast Moose
It’s Baseball Season 2022!
(#92) Baseball season is finally here for 2022! It's officially cold and wet enough to begin. Hinds starts next Tuesday at Millsaps. So to get you in the right frame of mind for our Great American Pastime, our yearly ritual, enjoy this classic 9 pitch battle (all fastballs) between the Dodgers hard-throwing 21-year old rookie … Continue reading It’s Baseball Season 2022!
A Tribute to Lee Toney, 40 Years Later
Congrats to Lee Toney (1982-83) on his selection to the 2023 Hinds Community College Sports Hall of Fame! His induction will be during the Hinds Homecoming Festivities in October. (#91) Here's a shoutout to the great Lee Toney who put together the greatest offensive season in Hinds Community College baseball history forty years ago, in … Continue reading A Tribute to Lee Toney, 40 Years Later
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 