Les Bangs a long time local baseball coach passed away on Saturday. On friday afternoon in his capacity as assistant baseball coach at Greenbrier Christian Academy less was hitting fungos as he has for over half a century when he collapsed on the field. CPR was administered and Coach Bangs made it through the night before going quietly on saturday afternoon. I coached with Les for 4 years at G.C.A and he coached me as a player as well as both my sons Sean and Chase. I saw him on thursday evening at the Cape Henry game and marvelled at his ability to be around the game and active at the age of 84. My wife said that I seemed sad that he had passed but envious of the way he died and she was accurate. Les Bangs told me 6 years ago when we were in a hotel room in Florida together that he wanted to go when the time came on a ballfield. Les Bangs was a Maury graduate Class of "43". He was a minor league player in the Cubs organization, associate scout,past Bud Metheny award winner and also served his country as a civil service worker for the Navy as well as legion coach for more then 40 years. There will be a memorial service at Greenbrier Christian Academy at 6pm on Tuesday May 2nd at the ballfield. Past/ present players and coaches are asked to attend.The service will be followed by a viewing at Graham funeral home near Central meat packing in Chesapeake at 8pm to 9pm. So now with the passing of Les along with Harry Postove, Ray White, Clyde McCollough, Bud Metheny, and Ed Nagourney who all went before him baseball in the area has lost men that had tremendous impacts on local players. They all role modeled class, work ethic, knowledge, and character as well as their ability to teach the game. Les will be sorely missed and can never be replaced but God now has with him the best first base coach I've ever seen.
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