If you know, then you know. The bucket has given me a front-row seat to the fantastic things that happen in the game of baseball. It has always carried more than just baseballs for me. It carried life lessons where lifelong relationships were made and moments that can never be reproduced. Coaching was never about the wins; it was a ministry to develop young boys into men and to set forth becoming impactful leaders of tomorrow. I ran companies the same way that I coached players. Serve to make them the best version of themselves. Serve to challenge more and dream bigger than themselves. That is the true role of a coach.
Wins and successes come with the job, as do losses and challenges. The real victory is the impact made and the transformation. To the 2024 players, thank you for letting me be part of life lessons learned, growth through adversity, and experience joy through accomplishments. You climbed that hill to meet the challenge this year, and as the last group I got to lead, you were special. You validated everything good in coaching and ended the season with passion and selfless motives. Your level of grit and resilience will define you more than your wins and losses do. Thank you, and I hope you pass on those same lessons to the next generation.
To the coaches I coached with along the way; thank you for letting me do life with you and challenge one another to be better in all aspects. The talks were less about running the best bunt defenses or pick-off plays; it was about being better fathers, husbands, friends, and challenging one another to be the most complete version of ourselves. Iron sharpens iron, and you helped me tighten those edges. I am so grateful, and those talks will continue because our bond of love and respect is cemented together.
To my sons, who let me get a front-row seat on that very bucket and watch you grow into remarkable young men of character and baseball players with the intellect, dedication, and resilience to hold your own in this world. Thanks for taking me along and teaching you that penny decisions compounded will deliver million-dollar moments. For now, the bucket moves into the garage but will always be full of the great things that came from it and the memories made.
Thanks to @YardTraining for a fun summer. Here's how the summer finished out:
Pitching:
21 IP, 7H, 0ER,1BB,18K,0.00ERA
Hitting:
43AB, 15H, 10R, 8RBI,.349BA
Easton Gasner (Rochester Lourdes '26) Yard Dogs Rochester,MN with the complete game shut out at the 2024 16U WWBA north championship in Marion, IA. 5 IP ,3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 K, 1BB, 3-3 2R, 4 RBI and spectacular defense behind him again.
Easton Gasner with the complete game 2-0 victory at the pasttime tournament of champions in Crestwood, IL 7 IP, 1 H,0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB, 1-3 2 RBI. 62 pitches
Players
Be versatile.
The player that can play all over the field has an extraordinarily higher chance to get on the field in college.
If your high school or travel team bounces you all over the field, it's a good thing.