Coach Evans’ Experience and Thoughts
What an absolute whirlwind and amazing 10 days, Coach Petty called me on Saturday night July 18th and said “I need you down in Atlanta on Monday night.” Yes Crazy, Loveable Coach Petty called me 2 days before the 16U Perfect Game World Wood Bat Tournament, and said get down here. I did everything in my power to tell him NO, I had lots of programs running at Diamond Dreams as well as the work I’m doing with the National Pitching Association. But wouldn’t you know over the next 12 hours, all of the staff is saying “go, go, we got it.” So I called Coach Petty back and said “I’m in”, let me also say at this time Coach was telling me he had a special group of kids, and had a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing. My first blush reaction was Coach Petty and the Canes staff has always gotten great players, but enough talent to win this tournament? This is the biggest and most competitive tournament in the world. Coach Petty was right, The Canes 16U Team is PERFECT GAME WORLD WOOD BAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, and Thank You so much for embracing me and allowing me to be a part of this awesome experience.
Obviously, when you win a tournament like this you have a group of unbelievably talented athletes and baseball players, but the thing that stuck out to me was how great they are as kids. These young men were all super coachable and said yes sir, no sir. The parents of these players have raised great kids who will be successful in life as well as baseball. You hear people complaining about the young adults in our society on a regular basis, well those people need to spend a week with these kids and their opinion of where society is headed will change dramatically. The country’s future is in good hands with the Canes players.
I was brought in to work with the pitching staff, and what a staff it was. We had so much pitching that in the quarterfinal round game, I was able to go righty/lefty matchups in the last inning of a one run game. It was like being in the Major Leagues, never have I been able to do anything close to that in an amateur setting. Then in the finals (RHP) Dillon Maples pitched the 1st no-no in perfect game championship game history, and this is after (LHP) Jake Cave threw 6 innings of no hit ball in the first round against a legendary coach’s team (we all know why he lost the no no right Curt). A gutty performance by Womack in the semi-finals, after he had gone 7 complete only giving up one run. Then the rules of the tournament calling for extra innings to start with the bases loaded and he pitched his way out of that, giving us a chance to win that game. This staff was legit from top to bottom, I wasn’t afraid to give the ball to anyone at anytime.
This was truly a team effort, everyone stepped-up and made a play, a pitch, a swing, a throw, when it was needed.
If you would bear with me I would like to speak specifically about each coach and kid, but before I do I want to remind the players that this is an experience you and I will never forget. However, your work is not over, this is not the pinnacle of your baseball career, this is a major highlight, but all of you have great futures and you need to continue to push yourself to be faster, stronger, and better everyday. In the game of baseball you are either getting better or getting worse you never stay the same. I’m looking for great things from everybody, so put in the work.
Coach Myers: The best recruiter, the man behind the scenes that made all this possible. He truly cares about the players, in this for them not himself. You are lucky to have a manager like him; he truly wants to see everyone succeed.
Coach Willoughby: Great baseball mind, always thinking 2 plays or 2 innings ahead. He is truly passionate about baseball and kids. I would let him coach my kids anytime.
Grayson Atwood: Saved a no-no in the finals with a big league play. Great feet, hands, size, pop in his bat. Sky is the limit. Keep working big boy can’t wait to see how good you are going to be.
Tyler Beede: Got great stuff, changeup is NASTY. Has the size and frame to be a big-time pitcher. Still growing, when it all connects together watch out. Future is super bright.
Jordan Boze: The quietest kid on the time. Silent assassin, on the mound he just carves you up, smooth slow delivery and the ball just explodes on the hitter.
Curt Britt: Mr. Polite, he called me SIR the whole time and I kept looking around for the old dude he was calling sir, and I guess it was me. He pounds the strike-zone, fearless, attacks hitters, with great sink. Swings the bat really well, has a plan on every pitch, very cerebral. A Gamer.
Cameron Capell: Mr. Utility for this team, he caught and played the outfield. Doubted his ability for a game or two, we had a talk and then he got huge hits in some big spots. Never doubt your ability you can play for me anytime dude.
Jake Cave: Spent a lot of time with Jake, long ride home from Atlanta. His passion for the game is unmatched, he is a competitor hates to lose. I will give him the ball against anybody at anytime and know he will leave it all in the field. Congrats on LSU
Josh Clark: Incredible Hulk, watch out when he gets out. He did an awesome job handling the pitching staff, great receiver and blocker of the baseball. The pitchers weren’t afraid to throw the nasty hammer with runners at third because they knew he would keep it in front and I wasn’t afraid to call it.
Tyler Crocker: Super soft hands behind the plate, does a great job making his pitchers feel good, and gets the borderline pitch called a strike which pitchers love. Continue to take care of your pitchers and they will take care of you in return.
Luke Dunlap: Made an unbelievable catch to help preserve a game while battling the sun, not sure if he caught it or there was some divine intervention and the ball just went in. Huge hits all week and showed some serious pop, hitting balls off and over the fence when we needed them most. Big Game Player.
Michael Gilroy: A true pitcher, you look under crafty lefty and you will see his picture. 3 pitches that he can throw for strikes at anytime on both sides of the plate. He will continue to mature and throw with more velocity and when that happens he will be a big time prospect.
Daniel Gossett: Has great stuff, ball comes out of his hand easy. He battles, a competitor on the mound, will do whatever it takes to get the hitter out. Clemson getting a good one.
Landon Lassiter: As sure-handed a shortstop as I’ve ever seen at this age. Battled through some hand/wrist problems and showed a gutty performance swinging the bat. I love the way he plays short, throws the ball just hard enough to get the guy out, while making the runner think he’s going to be safe. A WINNER.
Dillon Maples: Hey BOY, what a masterful performance in the finals. This is a prime example of first impressions can be wrong. Dillon was a quiet reserved kid for 2 days, then man he came out of his shell and he is CERTIFIABLE, but in a good way. When he has a baseball in his hand he is one special kid, don’t take it for granted keep at it.
Kyle Martin: Intimidating presence in the batters box, I didn’t like throwing BP to him, because if I screwed up a pitch I thought he might take my head off. He can flat out swing it. He is a GREAT defensive 1st baseman, which gets overlooked because of his hitting prowess. Feet around the bag are Big League already.
Ryan Mayhew: Pounds the zone, with sinking fastball, tight breaking pitch and sweet change-up. A bulldog on the hill wants the ball and will attack hitters. Ready to pitch whenever need, I had faith in him no matter what the situation was.
Travis Myers: Travis we missed you at the end when we were making the run, I enjoyed my time with you. You do a great job receiving and blocking, continue to work on your footwork, you have the tools to catch beyond High School.
Jordan Ramsey: Super high ceiling, in scout terms he is very projectable. He is still growing and throws the ball with ease, and has good off-speed stuff to go with it. He will blossom into a stud over the next year.
Blake Sipe: Blake did everything we asked and always did it with pep in his step. His motor never stops, a super high energy kid. Runs the bases well, plays the outfield well, swings the bat well, pitches well. Blake understands the game and has a high Baseball IQ, he doe everything well. Blake is a baseball player.
Nick Thompson: Big game player, clutch hitter. When the game is in the balance he will find a way to drive in a run, get on base, or move the runner. Always a threat with the bat in his hand, I just knew something good was going to happen when he was at bat.
Josh Tobias: Pure hitter squares everything up. He takes a Big League approach to the game at a young age. I love the book he keeps on every at bat, his work ethic is unmatched. Keep swinging it, you have a chance to be special and do special things in this game.
Ronald Womack: MILK, he was the heart and soul, the motivator for this team. He can also throw a baseball, with a filthy yak piece. He competes every pitch and knows he’s going to get you out. Ronald don’t lose sight of where baseball can take you, especially with the special left arm you posses.
Coach Petty: I saved you for last; you and the organization you run do things the right way. Please never lose sight of why you do what you do. You take a group of great players and put them in a position to succeed both as individuals and as a team. You are great at motivating the kids and getting them to understand the task at hand, and how the team can promote the individual. In today’s society there are a lot of ME thinkers, you share the WE philosophy and get the players to buy in to it. Look what happens when they do. Canes are National Champs Baby and college coaches pestering you like crazy about all the players on your team. That is why you do what you do. By the way, you can breathe now and relax its over, your team and organization did it.
Lastly, it was an honor and privilege to be a part of this amazing team and the journey we were on for a week. I want to do it again. Through this process I got to be a part of something special, something that no one can ever take away from all of us. I would love it if everyone would stay in touch with me, I got to know all of you and consider you family now. I don’t want to be that Uncle you talk to when you see him at Christmas, and never talk to him otherwise. Relationships are important to me, so here is the best way to contact me, james.evans@nationalpitching.com. Send me an e-mail with your contact info, yes; I’m old according to Curt but I do text and e-mail like a champ. Keep working, and I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you.