More baseball changes in Opelika

Several factors led me to this decision.

It is a decision I have considered for some time and I more or less set a target date of 30 years with the program as a milestone to step aside.

About eight years ago, I had to take a leave of absence for a year when my wife’s parents were involved in a serious wreck, leaving one slightly paralyzed and the second in a situation where he was never able to return home after the wreck before dying a couple of years later.

Elaine and I have several elderly—and younger—relatives we are the primary caregivers for and it takes time.

As of earlier this year, I have been publisher as well as editor of my newspaper, The Tuskegee News. Not only am I responsible for the news operation side, all the financial aspects of the operation are now under my watch, thus a large increase in my responsibilities.

I feel this the proper time to devote more time to my family and business.

As I mentioned, I just completed my 30th year with the program. During that time I coached seven years of Dixie Youth and another six years in Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors. I was fortunate to coach six straight championship teams from Pee Wee through DYB Majors, serving as head all-star coach four times in DYB and another five times in six years of coaching older leagues.

I have not had a child in the DYB program since 1988. My last year of coaching Dixie Majors (15-18) was 1993, so that in 1994 I could serve as State Tournament Committee Chairman when Opelika hosted the Alabama Dixie Youth State Tournament. I was fortunate to grow up in one of the strongest DYB programs, that being Myrtle Grove outside Pensacola where our league won nine straight Florida DYB titles and hosted a DYB World Series. My brother and I were both members of World Series Champion teams from Myrtle Grove in Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors, respectively.

With that said, I believe my perspective as a former player and all-star participant, regular season coach, an all-star coach and a league official gives me insight into all aspects of the program. I hope other board members continue to be a part of Opelika DYB once they do not have a child in the program. To me this is very important.

With too many coaches on the board, I believe—consciously or unconsciously—there is a tendency to attempt to influence team assignments, league alignments and focus on how the all-star teams will be comprised at the end of the season. There is absolutely nothing wrong with fielding a strong tournament team. However, the focus should always be first on the regular season and involving as many children as possible in the program.

I hope the program’s focus will always be in the proper direction.

I will make myself available to whomever will become commissioner of the Minor League as it relates to rosters, draft procedures and the coaching selection process, if that person so desires.

To say I have enjoyed my years with Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball would be major understatement. For 30 years Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball has been a large part of my life and a passion for me—and something I will miss tremendously.

Sincerely,