Tribute to a Coach...and Coaches

Clayton,
Thank you.    Shildty (as son refers to him) has been bestowed MILB manager of the year award (I think a few times) by the Cardinals and definitely one of the good guys.
Just one of the many reasons why the organization is ranked so high.

I believe he was field coordinator in Jupiter when Dave was in high and maybe with him in his first season in Batavia.

Funny how our son's paths have crossed in so many ways!  DK has been so lucky to work under so many people who have had positive influences on him as I am sure for Robert as well.

Many thanks, Barbara.

 

Our sons' crossed paths are pretty amazing.

 

Before I posted what I did, I was reminded that Mike's teams have been their league champions in each of the past three years...two in Johnson City and one in Springfield. For that, he's received a good bit of well deserved recognition. I omitted that in my original post in favor of focusing on the more fundamental traits that so many great coaches seem to have. He, and others like him, should be recognized for both aspects.

 

Thanks very much for seconding the praise.

Nice post Prepster.  Really nice. 

 

In life, we just don't say "thank you" enough.  Its been on my mind lately too.

 

So I wanna take a moment to say "THANK YOU!" to our sons' pitching coach since a young age.  Dave Salter.  You've never heard of him...unless you live near me, in which case you might have.  He's one of those hard-working guys who won't take your money to just take it and produces result after result after result...with little fanfare.

 

Dave has been giving private lessons in our area for close to 20 years.  He once coached a local HS team for a year and was an assistant at a local JUCO for 7 or 8 years.  He now has a "regular" job, but still gives instruction for those that ask.

 

Dave has coached many, many pitchers who have gone onto success.  Just this year, two of his "students" who both go back to him in the off-season made their MLB debuts.  There are others already in MLB and many, many college pitchers who came through Dave at some point.

 

Better yet, he's a really good person.  Calls me every once in while, "Lets grab some dinner and a beer."  Always a fun time.

 

He has been in the running for a number of D1 pitching coach positions, but for reasons I cannot explain hasn't landed that spot yet.  Their loss as far as I can tell.

 

Anyways...Thanks Dave Salter!  You're one of the best! 

Exactly why I posted originally, jbb!

 

Would love to see some others recognized.

My son has been very blessed with having very fine men mentor him as he was growing up.

 

Not only have they been good coaches and managers, but great role models. I have no complaints with anyone of them.

 

Last December we lost one of my son's favorite, his high school travel Poker coach, Mike Roberts.

 

Every player should have a Mike Roberts as a coach at one time in their lives.  He taught my son so much more than one can teach about the game of baseball.

 

More about the game of life.

 

It breaks my heart even after all of these months about  his unexpected death, DK was due to have lunch with Coach that week.  He still is very much bothered that he never got to see him for that one last time.

 

I have told this story and I will tell it again. The team won a chance to go to play Connie Mack regional finals (to advance to CMWS) in Memphis. A few hours before they arrived, a tornado hit the side of town they would be staying at (the hotel). No electricity andanagement not sure if they would have it for a few days.

 

The other teams staying at the hotel refused stay and left to stay across town at a hotel with electricity.  Coach Roberts refused. He belonged to that old school way of thinking, the more uncomfortable you are, the more lessons you will learn and the better you will become.

 

No electricity, which meant no hot breakfast, no espn, no hot showers, and early to bed. The only thing they were allowed to use electricity for (hooked up to generator) was to power their cell phones to keep in touch with mom and dad.

 

The team came within one game of not going to the WS. 

 

Sound like a miserable time? Son said it was THE best time he has ever had while traveling, and the entire experience taught him valuable lessons. I am thinking that is probably why son has overcome so much adversity that he has experienced since that summer.

 

Thank you very much Coach Mike Roberts!