Lackey Chargers "Varsity" Baseball

Junior Varsity & Varsity Baseball Players…

This past Friday I joined the students in attending the Winter Sports Pep Rally, to celebrate all of our fine winter sports athletes here at Lackey High. While watching the pep rally, I began to reflect on the HEL baseball program and thoughts and questions started to fill my head….what type of team do we have….who are we….what are we…where did we came from….where are we headed….what goals do we have….WHAT ARE WE PLAYING FOR….how are WE going to achieve/accomplish our individual and team goals….

As I was reflecting, I took notice of the banners hanging high in the rafters of the gym. Specifically seeking out baseball, I noticed that in 1972 and 1982 HEL baseball was SMAC Champions and in 2000 we were Regional Champions. Thought number one – In all these years HEL Baseball is only mentioned THREE TIMES on those banners??!! Thought number two – I wonder what those teams were like? What made them better than everyone else in those years? Did they possess “star athletes” or were they a group of grinders, never give up, never die; dirtbags?

My image of those teams, for each of those years baseball was mentioned on the banner, the entire team had dirty, sweaty, bloody, grimy, beat up, ripped up, scraped up, and tore up uniforms each and every time they stepped off the PRACTICE FIELD…I can only imagine what they looked like coming off the playing field…What is your image of those teams?

I continued to imagine…If I were to speak to one of the members of any of those “Championship” teams, how would they remember the team? What would they say? I would imagine they would say things like….

“We’re just a team that scrapes and gets the little things done to win.”

“We brought all we had to the table in every single game. It doesnt matter the conditions or who youre playing or where youre playing. You have to get down and get dirty and do what you have to do to win. It means giving up and at-bat to move the runner over, to hit the sac fly, giving it all until the moment you walk off the field.”

“We always battled every inning. every at-bat. We just played hard-nosed baseball”

“We didnt have the greatest ability: On a scale from 1 to 10, we were a 5, but we always played hard and didnt care how pretty we looked. We just got after it”

“We gave 100 percent in everything we did…always going all-out on every play, and always putting the TEAM before yourself”

“We loved to play the game everyday. We didnt have all the skills of the greatest players, but our attitude and the way we committed ourselves to the game is what made the difference. We dealt with adversity, we were hardnosed, and we were all team players all the time.”

“We took the all-out approach on the field, preparing and working harder than anybody else. BEING THE UNCOMMON WORKER AND PLAYER, NOT JUST ANOTHER PERSON.”

What do you think members of those “Championship” teams would say? In 10 years, could you reflect back and say the same things about your HEL Baseball team? If the answer is NO, the time for change is NOW….And it starts with YOU!

Be part of “Building a Tradition”

Lets add to those banners in the gym…

SMAC Champions 2012 Henry E. Lackey Baseball…I like the sounds of that, do you?…Even better….State Champions – Henry E. Lackey High School 2012….Who are you and how bad do you want it?

See you March 1st,
Coach McGlenn

*Henry E. Lackey High School Baseball Coaching Philosopohy

*Our goal is to treat all players and coaches equally. There are no superstars on our teams, who are above anyone else. We have set team guidelines, and the entire program has to abide by these rules and regulations. We expect our players to understand that the coaching staff believes in them. We want to give our players every opportunity to experience success both on and off the field. We also want to make every effort possible to provide our players with the most enjoyable experience, which will continue to teach life lessons for them in their future endeavors.

We expect the players to be good student-athletes, with an emphasis placed on “student”. We expect them to conduct themselves in a mature manner in the school setting, out in the community, and on the playing field at all times. Players who do not – will not be part of the Henry E. Lackey High School Baseball Program. Lackey Baseball players and coaches represent our school, our program, their families, and most importantly “themselves”. Professionalism is required from our players, coaches, parents, and administration in order to demonstrate that the Henry E. Lackey High School Baseball Program is a first-class organization. “Building a Tradition” is the motto of our program. With a combined effort of all those involved, we believe we can achieve our goal.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support,
Coach McGlenn

Players:

As of January 23, 2012…

There are 38 days until March 1st, the first day of HEL Baseball Tryouts…Are you ready?!

“If we didnt expect our players to make mistakes we would fill up the bathtub and have them walk across it…”

Off-Season conditioning will limit those in-season mistakes…Make sure youre not a tryout casualty by attending off-season conditioning to work on your weaknesses and turn them into strengths!!

Coach McGlenn

The 10 Commandments of Baseball 2013

1. Nobody ever became a ball player by walking after a ball.
2. You will never become a .300 hitter unless you take the bat off your shoulder.
3. An outfielder who throws back of a runner is locking the barn after the horse is stolen.
4. Keep your head up and you may not have to hold it down.
5. When you start to slide, S-L-I-D-E. He who changes his mind may have to change a good leg for a bad one.
6. Do not alibi on bad hops. Anybody can field the good ones.
7. Always run them out. You can never tell.
8. Do not quit.
9. Do not find too much fault with the umpires. You cannot expect them to be as perfect as you are.
10. A pitcher who hasnt got control, hasnt got anything.