Understandably, any prospective player and their family will want to know about our coaching staff. You may be accustomed to seeing a curriculum vita of the history of championships won, accolades earned and awarded and exclamations about expertise and accomplishments. While all of these merits may provide some insight into an organization and their attraction for the player, they would not clearly present what this amazing staff brings to the table for the experience of summer baseball for the aspiring candidates.
Our staff includes a lineup of coaches who collectively have amassed well over 100 years of experience in sports pedagogy in Howard County alone. The current staff of Kevin Hiden, Doc Drewyer, Kiehl “Grandpa” Poffenberger and Doug “77” Meyer have been at the helm of Post 60 Baseball for 15, 15, 15 and 9 years together. Additionally, each year brings the opportunity for mentoring a younger coach-in-the-making to our staff, effectively bridging the gap between the old guys and the players while keeping our perspectives fresh.
Our record of players who have played college baseball numbers over 70. A number of those players have gone on to coach High School and College baseball. We have alumni of Post 60 Baseball now playing the field as successful professionals in Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Teaching, Business and the Arts.
Yes, we can coach the intricacies of our perfect game, the strategies, techniques and skill building to support our players in their development at this crucial stage of their athletic careers. All of us continue to apply our time to lifelong learning as the dialogue continues on the latest and greatest methodologies to improve the game.
However, from the outset we have held our primary goal to support the development of the “mental/spiritual capital” of the young men entrusted to our charge. The honing of these resources allows our players enhanced resilience in the face of challenge, and a flexibility to adapt to fast-paced experiences – all of which is offered in the participation of Laurel American Legion Post 60 baseball as a metaphor for their adult lives ahead.
Yes, we can coach the game of baseball, and we leave it to those interested to check the record of wins and losses. However, we consider our responsibilities to be even more far-reaching than a championship here and there (although we do smile as they come our way!) It is our primary goal to invest our time with our ball club developing a positive outlet for the re-creation of wellness in the midst of a crucial time of their growth and development. Through the process that is Post 60 Baseball, it is our coaching staff’s intention that our guys learn to recognize the values of intentionally preparing and performing individually and as a team to the highest standards in realization of what that dedication rewards intrinsically and, as the ball bounces, the occasional trophy.