07/25/2021
The hardest part of leaving the Spikes was waking up this morning, and and seeing the empty hotel-room doors.
The door hangers, gone. The green and orange, taken down. The season, over. Being a coach to this group, a thing of the past.
To some, it probably doesn’t seem like much. But coaching this group the past few years (some of them from the time they were 7) became a pretty big part of my life. These kids. These families. All very very special.
But today, reality set in when the doors were empty. The hallways were quiet. And it was hard. I’ve often said, it’s bigger than baseball. And, it is.
Players will move on. No doubt, some will become stars on the field. Some will hang it up. Hopefully all of them will become successful at life. Good people. Good husbands. Good dads. Hopefully that’s what they’ve learned as Spikes.
I’ve learned too. Learned to be patient. Learned to listen. Learned to love these kids like they were my own.
Someone else will take these Spikes and continue to push them, to mold them, to do their best to help raise them into young men.
I’ll be watching from the stands, proud of every little thing they accomplish. And, they will accomplish things, I’m sure.
I’ll miss this chapter, and will miss being “Coach.” But, I’m looking forward to starting over again with Jagers group, in whatever capacity I can.
Thank you to the assistant coaches along the way. I know the heart and the dedication that you’ve put in. The tough decisions, the joys of victory, the lumps in the throat after tough losses… thank you for the time you put in to push these kids as far as we could.
Thank you to the parents and the grandparents, The trust you had in me is overwhelming. I know we always didn’t agree - but you trusted me to put the team first, and let me spend a handful of summers with your kids. I’m grateful.
To my family - thanks for letting me do this. Yes, I spent way too much time thinking about lineups, way to much time worried about this or that… but I think it was worth it. We made lifetime friends that will hold a special place in our hearts for a long long time. Cruz, I can not wait to watch you from the stands, but I’ll
miss being with you in the dugout!
To the players - you are the reason for
all of this. We won together, we learned together. I will miss being around you more than you will ever know. You all have a special place in my heart, and I will
miss each of you. You made me a better person, and I love each one of you. Thank you.
Thanks all. Decorate those hotel doors, and know how special it is! Go Spikes.
-Ryan
