S2.E30 Welcome LHS Baseball w/Coach Brad Tacey and seniors, Tanner Haight & Lucas Steward

Welcome to the 30th episode of the Viking Coaches Corner!  Listeners, the grass is turning green, the the diamonds are drying out, and it's time to talk BASEBALL! So, in the memory of Mel Allen, it's time to bring back the T.W.I.B. Notes!  This week, Coach Brad Tacey stops by the show with seniors, Tanner Haight and Lucas Steward. We are excited to give you an inside look at the Lakewood Vikings Baseball program.  Put on your favorite baseball jersey, grab a couple of hotdogs, and enjoy this episode!

Remember to come out and support your Lakewood Vikings sports!  And stick around and check out the success your Vikings are achieving.  

Special thanks you to Tommy and Judy Scheidt of Buddy’s on the Beach in Lake Odessa for hosting this podcast.  

GO VIKINGS!

Transcript

Photo #1

SPEAKER_04 0:12

Good evening, welcome to Buddies on the Beach. I am your host, Kurt Ackerson of the Viking Coaches Corner. It is March 25th, one day before opening day of baseball season for the Lakewood Vikings and also the Detroit Tigers. Our guests tonight are Lakewood head coach Brad Tacey, senior Lucas Stewart, and senior Tanner Hayt. Before we talk a little Lakewood, what's your thoughts on the Tigers, Coach? How do you think they're gonna do this year?

SPEAKER_00 0:44

I'm pretty excited. Saw that they have McGonagall on their opening day roster, so you know. Yes. JV's back, so JV's back.

SPEAKER_04 0:56

If they stay healthy, I feel they have a great pitching staff, good relief pitching. How about you, Lucas? Lucas Stewart?

SPEAKER_02 1:04

I'm hoping they do good.

SPEAKER_04 1:05

I think they will.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

I'm excited to see Scoobyl a lot more this year. Hoping he can go back to back. Um I think is it Flaherty? Is he the other one? Flarity.

SPEAKER_04 1:15

And then they picks up another lefty Valdez. Yep. JV back.

SPEAKER_02 1:20

I'm excited to see them push this here.

SPEAKER_04 1:22

It'd be great. It might probably be the last year you see Scoobyl in the Tiger uniform if he goes.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Yes. We'll have to wait and see.

SPEAKER_04 1:29

We will see what the trade deadline is. The end of July or 1st of July?

SPEAKER_00 1:34

It's in July sometime.

SPEAKER_04 1:35

Okay, and speaking of opening days, don't you guys have opening day tomorrow?

SPEAKER_00 1:40

We do. We're hosting Central Montcalm. Uh looking at the weather, we're hoping we get at least one game in. Uh it's kind of looking not the greatest for game two, but we're hoping to get at least a little bit of baseball in before you have to open up uh league play here on Saturday.

SPEAKER_04 1:56

And Saturday is a doubleheader against Ionia. Correct. Yep. For both boys' baseball and girls softball. So it should be a fun day. Saturday at Lakewood high school. How many years have you been coaching, Coach Tacey?

SPEAKER_00 2:10

At the high school, I started in uh '99. I was the freshman assistant coach for my dad, Dave Tacey. Uh that's when Bob Beach was running the program. Um stepped away, did some umpiring for a while with you actually. Yes. Uh, for about 15 years. And then I came back, started coaching football in 2008, I believe, was my first year again under Bob Beach. And then continued on all the way through 2021 when I stepped down from that. But I've been doing uh this will be my 11th year uh as the head coach for uh Lakewood baseball. But we w this is only our tenth season because we lost out on one tough open. So what year did you graduate from Lakewood? 94 when we won the regional championship in baseball.

SPEAKER_04 3:01

So you played, wasn't that Matt Aldrich or athletic director on that team?

SPEAKER_00 3:06

No, so I actually coached Matt when he was a freshman in '99. So when they went to the final four, I believe uh I believe that was 01, somewhere in there, that they went to the final four. But no, we won the regional championship in '94 for the first first time for that.

SPEAKER_04 3:24

And you have two seniors that we kind of introduced. So do you want to give them a thorough introduction?

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Sure. Uh I've got uh to my left, I have Lucas Stewart, uh senior. He is back from being on the mend last season, missed quite a bit of time with a broken hand. We're excited to have him back. Uh he pitches and plays outfield. And then across from me, I have Tanner Hate, another senior as well. And Tanner is our do-it-all everything man. He's gonna catch for us since our starting catcher is not available tomorrow. Uh he plays second base and he pitches quite a bit for us.

SPEAKER_04 3:59

You can never have enough pitchings.

SPEAKER_00 4:01

No, no, and actually we're looking pretty good this year with pitching with our rotation. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_04 4:05

So, when did you guys both start playing baseball? Lucas, I'll start with you first. I started playing when I was in preschool.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Yeah, I started playing when I was around three years old. Now, did you guys play through the little league or travel teams or just little league for me? Uh I started playing in like the community league, and then I think when I was seven years old, I started playing travel ball.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

Oh, I remember because Bob wasn't Bob Tingley your coach.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

I played up, so I played 8U with Bob Tingley.

SPEAKER_04 4:32

I remember that. And who were some of your coaches, Lucas?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Brian Shelter and Seth Matthews were my coaches.

SPEAKER_04 4:38

Back to you, Brad. You mentioned about we umpire together. I believe that is the first time that I ran into you. I believe so.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

That's I'm pretty sure we met through that.

SPEAKER_04 4:47

Was on the softball field at Portland. You were behind the plate, and you were arguing with Jack Anderson.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

It's easy to argue with Jack.

SPEAKER_04 4:54

That's like that was one of my first games that I'm thinking, wow, who are these guys?

SPEAKER_00 4:59

Yeah. Neither one of us is gonna back down, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_04 5:02

And you actually still are an official for volleyball, correct?

SPEAKER_00 5:07

Yep, for volleyball. I'm still registered for baseball as well, but it it's few and far between games that I can get in.

SPEAKER_04 5:13

Are they still having a hard time getting umpires and referees for high school?

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Absolutely. It it's an epidemic uh across the board. Um, and that's why I push my guys to get certified and do it. Especially guys that are even if they're in the workforce, but especially the guys that are going to college, it's such easy money and they know the game and they get to experience it from the other side, you know, as an umpire and understand how difficult it can be to do it, um, but at the same time get some very good real-world experience um dealing with conflict resolution and things like that.

SPEAKER_04 5:49

So Lucas and Tanner, what are some individual goals that you both have this year for baseball?

SPEAKER_02 5:56

I think a major goal that I think a lot of the team has is just staying healthy throughout the year. I know the last couple years, especially battling with a lot of not even not even injury, but illness a lot of the time. So I think just staying healthy is a big one.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

I'd like for the team to win a district title and then hopefully regional too.

SPEAKER_04 6:14

So speaking of district, who do you know which district you're in?

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Yeah, so we're gonna be traveling to Wayland, and I believe in our district this year we have Wayland, Hopkins, Hastings, us, and Grand Rapids, South Christian.

SPEAKER_04 6:29

South Christian. I mean, I've just taken a stab in the dark. They sound like the biggest obstacle, but I could be wrong.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

Them and and truth be told, Wayland and Hopkins will both be pretty tough. Um, Hastings is gonna be better than what they've been the last few years as well.

SPEAKER_04 6:45

That's kind of unusual though to go that to that district or that with those teams, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 6:51

Look, I you know, I I can't make rhyme or reason of it. We're like the redheaded stepchild when it comes to district bearings. I don't know that we have ever had the same district since I've been here. We've been in Eden Rapids and Ionia and Portland, and we hosted once here. Um we've been all over the place, and honestly, we're having different opponents almost every single year.

SPEAKER_04 7:19

What is a Brad Tassy practice like? Gentlemen, who wants to go first?

SPEAKER_00 7:26

Careful now, boys.

SPEAKER_02 7:29

Um they're pretty I would say they're pretty well organized. I say we're they're pretty efficient, we really get stuff done. Um start off with some running, you know, just the basic warmups, but then it's it's right into it. You know, we're doing efficient base running, and then it's it's a lot of individual work, like positions going to their positions to get a lot of work done.

SPEAKER_04 7:48

And how long is it? Usually like three hours? You guys go three hours outdoors? Well, to start the season.

SPEAKER_00 7:55

Well, to start the season, we're we're going is when we can get outside, we're gonna go as long as we can, just because being outside is a it's just a premium. Uh I think we only got outside twice the first week, and today, or we've been out twice this week, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

So yeah, so four times out of how many every days that is. So we we get after it. And when we're inside, I think we have the gym time for three hours, varsity will go for three hours, JV will go for two hours. But yeah, we there's a lot of things, especially at the beginning of the season, to get in. And with all the injuries and things we've been dealing with, you know, just in these first how many ever days, you know, it's finding guys that can play different positions that we weren't really counting on. And the guys have really stepped up, truth be told.

SPEAKER_04 8:39

He likes to have people play multiple positions.

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, we're a smaller squad this year, uh, number wise. I think we're at 14, but that's including Brady, who is still on the men from his football injury. So hopefully we're hoping to get him back sometime in April, um, but we're gonna have to wait and see. But for the most part, with 13 guys, it makes it difficult. You can't just be an outfielder or a first baseman. You know, you you you've got to learn multiple positions.

SPEAKER_04 9:09

Of those 13 guys, how many have varsity experience?

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Uh let's see, all of them, except for the three freshmen that we have up.

SPEAKER_04 9:20

That's great. So that could probably be one of the keys to your season uh depth and exper or the experience on a team.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

Oh, definitely. And like I said, as long as we can stay healthy, we've kind of uh had a run of bad luck here, and we were talking as a coaching staff, you know, a couple weeks ago. I don't know that we haven't had a season since 2019 where we haven't had a major injury. You know, it's it's guys with you know UCLs and it's knees and it's uh breaking your hands.

SPEAKER_04 9:51

Well, I saw the one guy I can't think of his name, but he broke his leg and slided into second base. Oh, Nathaniel Graham. Nathaniel Graham. That was like three, four years ago.

Photo #2

SPEAKER_00 10:00

It was, and that was so that would have been yeah, that would have been 2022. And I mean, you just anytime a kid gets hurt, you know, it's tough. But when they're seniors, it's it's extra tough. And Nathaniel was having a historic year. He was gonna smash just about every offensive you know record that we had at the school, and game 14 he breaks his leg and he's done for the season.

SPEAKER_04 10:21

I was up in the booth. Uh isn't he still playing though, I think, in college?

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Yep. Uh he played at uh Kalamazoo Valley for a little bit, and now I believe he's over at Calvin.

SPEAKER_04 10:31

Yeah, he was a great athlete.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

Great, great athlete, great young man.

SPEAKER_04 10:36

So you told these guys to be careful, now you've really got to be careful. What are some of the best qualities about Coach Dacey that he brings to the table or actually to the field, and the other coaches as well?

SPEAKER_01 10:49

I would say he's honest and he's like straightforward, he'll let you know if you did something wrong, but he goes about it in the right way.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

I would say that that's that's definitely true. I think it's for all coaches, they're just all they all hold you accountable, like they all know what you're capable of, and they're gonna make sure that you're you're always giving your all and not slacking off.

SPEAKER_04 11:09

And who are the assistants? Actually, can you name all the coaches? Because we have a new coach, I don't know. Yeah, we have quite a few.

SPEAKER_00 11:16

We have quite a few. So um on my staff for the varsity, um, we have Sean Raymond. He has been with us for I believe this is gonna be his fourth season coming in. Um, Sean does our hitting routines, he's our hitting instructor, he's my first base coach, and the guy that I really relied on, you know, over these past four years. Uh, Coach Peach at Plinus is our pitching coach, does a phenomenal job of setting up practices, uh getting routines set down for guys, and this is through the program. I mean, it's not just the varsity guys that he gets going. Um, and he's really, really puts the time and effort into it to get these guys working better. I mean, he's got a facility over at his house. The guys come over whenever they want and they throw and hit. Um, it's kind of an open door policy, just shoot them a text and they go in there and they get their work done. And uh JV coaches? JV coach. Um so last year we had uh Wayne Moak who had to uh step down. Um he's still gonna help out a little bit here and there. Um and then obviously Matt Aldrich took the athletic director's job, and so um he's he can't do that. So this year we have Fred Lab is the JB head coach. Um Fred has he was a former Division I baseball player. He coached, I believe is under is either under Keith Carpenter or Bob Beach. I think it might have been under Beach because he was with Ting. Well, Ting's been around for forever.

SPEAKER_04 12:44

Yeah, Bob, you've been around forever.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

Forever, Bobby, we love you. Um and then we have uh helping out this year, uh assistant JV coaches. We have uh Sean Williams, uh, who's gonna help with the infield and hitting aspects uh of the game, and Kyle Thalen, who's gonna be working with outfielders and catchers.

SPEAKER_04 13:03

That's a great staff. I know all them guys.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Yep, great bunch of people. Yep. Oh, and one more. Uh our game changer runner who comes whenever he's not at work, uh, my son Lucas Tacey. So Lucas.

SPEAKER_04 13:16

He also umpire still, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:17

He does, yep, he does it all summer long.

SPEAKER_04 13:20

What areas, we talked about the strengths of the team, what areas do you feel, coach, that you need to approve on?

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Um, so I I would probably say this answer every single year just because it's so important to me, but defense, defense wins ball games, defense wins league championships, that wins district championships. Um, I tell guys all the time, you know, I'm gonna put the best nine defenders out there. So we we spend an enormous amount of time working on defense because the best nine defenders are gonna play. Um, you know, we can survive, you know, if you go up to bat and you strike out three times in a game, I mean that's baseball that's gonna happen. But if you boot a ball three times, probably not gonna win that game. So defense plays.

SPEAKER_04 14:01

I'm gonna ask both of you players this question and see if your coach agrees. Who do you feel is the biggest competition in the league this year?

SPEAKER_02 14:12

As far as competition, I think Ionia's always up there. That's always such an important game. That even if even if they're not the best team, we always just have to win that game. That's a must-win for sure. Beat the Bulldogs. I know Ionia and Portland every single year have always been so big. They're always in our district, always fighting, fighting for, I mean, we fought for district titles with them like the past couple years in a row. So I would think that those are pretty, pretty large games that that are a must-win.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Now there's Chris Treeweiler still coach Portland. Yep, Chris is still the coach over at Portland. And then Ionia's uh Jason Lundstrom's stepped down and Wayne Piercefield's coach in over the world. Oh, Wayne's coach in this year.

SPEAKER_04 14:48

He is so his boy is the senior this year, I believe. Correct, yes.

SPEAKER_00 14:52

So and I I would have to agree, definitely. I mean, Ionia's gonna be a big game just because it's always a big game. It's been a few years since we've beaten them, uh truth be told. So we're really looking to use tomorrow to get things in gear and ready to start the league season outright. Um Portland will always be tough, but to be honest with you, the teams that have the most back staff-wise and pitching-wise, are gonna be Charlotte, who returns quite a few, their entire pitching staff. And uh another team that was kind of down towards the bottom of the league standings last year returned quite a bit, and that's Eaton Rapids. So we're not gonna overlook anybody. Um top to bottom. The league is and is always going to be a tough kick. Nobody's very well, not nobody, but very rarely is anybody gonna run the table in the CAC board.

SPEAKER_04 15:46

Do you agree with all that, Lucas?

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Yeah, I definitely do.

SPEAKER_02 15:50

What other sports do you guys play? So I play I don't I don't play anything in the fall, and then I play basketball. Basketball and baseball.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

I play football, basketball, and baseball.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

You are one of the best kickers, Lucas, I've seen at Lakewood in many, many years. You have a little secret that helped you do that over the years. Could you tell our listeners what that is?

SPEAKER_01 16:16

Yeah, I had a uh field goal post in my backyard, so I'd practice out there quite often.

SPEAKER_04 16:22

That is awesome, and you had that since fourth grade, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:25

Yeah, we would have liked to see him get a few more attempts this year, too, but such is life.

SPEAKER_04 16:31

Maybe one more kick in the end zone against Lancey Sexton, and you guys might have been in the playoffs, but that's not on you. What are some of your favorite? Actually, all three of you. I'll start with you, coach. Some of your favorite baseball memories, whether it's coaching or playing in high school, okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:52

Umpiring, maybe? Sure. Uh I don't think I we want to go down the road of the umpire stories, but uh as a player, probably the my favorite baseball memory is playing Lansing Catholic in the regional championship my senior year. Um one of the biggest comeback wins in probably school history in baseball, anyways. We were down two runs going into the bottom of the seventh, uh, two outs. Um I drew a walk, Chad Bidenger hit a double, scored me from first. They uh walked Corey McDermott, who was at that time had the school record for home runs. Um, and then my man Jeff Krause put one off the right field fence, and both of them scored. Yep. Uh so yeah, so uh shout out to uh Coach Barker and Coach Geiger who coached us that year. Wayne Geiger, Billy Barker. Yep, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 17:44

I was gonna ask who your coaches were.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Yep, and uh no, I mean Coach Barker gave a phenomenal speech because MHSA folks that were in charge of the event had went over and set the set the trophy stand up behind Lanson Catholic's bench, and yeah, he he got us going. So uh that was great. And then coaching, honestly, my the the memory that sticks out the most, there's been a lot of wins and everything, but my first win, the first game that I had, uh we were playing Fowlerville, and they had a really good kid that ended up going playing D2, and we were tied two to two going into last inning uh with two outs and uh sticks hit a home run, uh Chandler Adams hit a home run um to walk the game off from my very first you know varsity coaching experience. So that was a phenomenal baseball player, phenomenal baseball player.

SPEAKER_04 18:34

So you talked about home runs. Who has an all-time home run record at Lakewood?

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Uh Kenny Bump. That's what I thought, and that's nine, right? Uh I'm gonna take your word on that. I got it written down somewhere, but I don't have it.

SPEAKER_04 18:46

Shout out to you, Kenny. It is nine. Call me later if it's incorrect. But for the longest time, coach, you held a record at Lakewood that got broke by oh the stolen base, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

The stolen base, uh gosh, when was that? Three years ago. Blake Price. Yeah, Blake Price broke it. Uh I think it's sitting at 57 now. In a season. In a season, correct. Yep.

SPEAKER_04 19:10

So you you were fast?

SPEAKER_00 19:11

I was fast. I was fast. I act well, I I was quicker than I was fast. It's all about getting a good jump, too, right? So that's the name of the game, especially in high school baseball. You steal bases off pitchers, not catchers.

SPEAKER_04 19:25

Lucas, some of your favorite baseball memories.

SPEAKER_01 19:28

Uh, probably my JV's uh sophomore season. I had a ton of fun that season. When I got pulled up, I had a lot of fun too.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

We won that game too, wasn't that a labet game? Yeah, started in left field.

SPEAKER_02 19:41

I remember that.

SPEAKER_04 19:42

Tanner?

SPEAKER_02 19:43

Um, I think JV, my sophomore year, was really fun too. It was just a fun, fun group of kids to play with. Um I've had a pretty fun experience playing travel ball as well. Uh championship game under the lights, big it was in a big stadium over in Grand Rapids, and get a walk-off down the line to win the championship game. So it was it was a pretty like surreal. It's kind of like one of the things you would like dream about as a kid, making it up in your head.

SPEAKER_04 20:08

How did it feel to play for Coach Tingley?

SPEAKER_02 20:12

It was, I mean, not only was he like a good baseball coach, he was just a good like mentor in life. He he taught me so much, like kind of made me the man I am today.

Photo #3

SPEAKER_00 20:20

So the boy Ting. Yeah, Bob Tingley is Lakewood baseball, let's be real. Uh, you know, I could stay here and coach for another um 25 years and probably not have the same impact that Bob has had on the young men in this community. So yeah, Lakewood baseball owes a lot to Bob Tingley.

SPEAKER_04 20:37

So, like, I played 15 years of pretty competitive softball with Bob Tingley, and he was like a coach on the field. I mean, he was a great he was a great mentor to me, and I appreciate you, Bob, very much. What about favorite school memories at Lakewood? All three of you. Who wants to go first? Lucas, we're gonna put you in the captain's seat for this one.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

I think my favorite memory was STEM class in eighth grade. I had it with Tanner, Carter, and Ben, and that was a ton of fun. That was really fun, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

I would say mine was probably either STEM class or uh having Spanish with Senior Orca. Shout out Senior Orca. Uh my is it sophomore year, I think? When we had it was me, me, Lucas, and Brady Makely, and I believe Brody was in there as well. It was such a fun class.

SPEAKER_04 21:26

Coach, some of your favorite favorite memories at Lakewood.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Favorite memory at Lakewood while I was at school, man, that was a while ago.

SPEAKER_04 21:35

Hey, I can remember mine, and I graduated with 79.

SPEAKER_00 21:38

Yeah, let's see. I mean, I had a ton, I was only at Lakewood for one year, just my senior year.

SPEAKER_04 21:43

Um okay, so favorite memories in school. It don't have to be Lakewood either.

SPEAKER_00 21:48

Oh, in school, uh Mr. Smith in physics class, these boys know I talk about physics all the time. Um, but I that was my favorite memory growing up in. Know in school. I mean you're outside doing experiments almost every single day. It was great. Loved it.

SPEAKER_04 22:06

So who has been the biggest influence or influences on all three of you at Lakewood or in life in general?

SPEAKER_00 22:16

Um, well, I guess for me, you know, my dad, um he coached for a good long time, did youth football for I don't know, 20, 25 years. Um, and then so my baseball coach over at Lakewood, Jake Boss, uh his son's the the coach at Michigan State right now, but Jake was a diehard through and through baseball guy. Um, learned a lot from Jake. Jake was really hard on me. Um but yeah, I I learned and I I learned this looking back. You know, when you're a kid, you don't always know what you're learning sometimes. But looking back, he really taught me that every player needs to be coached at their level. That you can't have a cookie-cutter mentality for all of these kids. Something that motivates one individual is not going to motivate another. And so I've really tried to keep that in mind every time I'm interacting with any of these guys.

SPEAKER_04 23:13

That's really great advice. And speaking of your father, I coached against him in football.

SPEAKER_00 23:18

Oh my bad.

SPEAKER_04 23:18

Back in the days when it was LOC. LOC, yep. And then also after I retired from corrections, I got a job at the Meyer Warehouse.

SPEAKER_00 23:27

Was he your union rep property?

SPEAKER_04 23:30

So shout out to Dave These.

SPEAKER_01 23:34

Lucas? I'd have to say my dad also. Um he's always pushed me to be better, and whenever I want to go out and play catch or even kick in the yard, he'd always go out with me.

SPEAKER_04 23:46

And your dad is Gabe, right?

SPEAKER_01 23:48

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 23:48

Who's a current coach on the football team?

SPEAKER_03 23:51

Yeah, he's a linebackers coach.

SPEAKER_02 23:54

Um, I'd have to say definitely my parents. Just countless hours, lots of money put in. I definitely have to say that they're a pretty good influence. But also definitely Bob Team. Like Bob Team has been such a big influence for baseball for me. And you probably love the game.

SPEAKER_04 24:08

Your father was also the youth football president for four or five years. Yep, yep, for a couple years. And he was my spotter up for varsity football games, I think, for two or three years. Shout out to Jeff Haight. Good luck on your upcoming surgeries. Yes. Favorite teachers. All three of you.

SPEAKER_00 24:28

Uh Mr. Smith was my favorite teacher. Here at Lakewood was probably um Mr. Patrick. Love Tim Patrick, he's great.

SPEAKER_01 24:40

I'd have to say Senior Urca. I loved having Senior. Uh I always loved his class.

SPEAKER_02 24:46

Definitely Senior Urca for sure. But also, I really love Senior Go Blue Urca. This look alloy too. I've always I've always enjoyed his classes, science classes.

SPEAKER_04 24:56

Is there any new MHSAA baseball rules out this year that we should be aware of?

unknown 25:01

Like we were always.

SPEAKER_00 25:03

Not necessarily new. They've they've made a couple updates to you know some pitching rules regarding how you address the mound and things like that. But overall, not really. I guess one of the biggest ones that's been in the last couple years is the introduction of communication devices between the dugout and the catcher. Um makes no cell phones, right? No, no, no, no, no cell phones. So just a one-way um walkie that goes to an earpiece and the catcher and makes makes life a whole lot easier to relay things.

SPEAKER_04 25:33

So no pitch clocks or anything like that. No. That's great. No. What do you guys do any special events for team binding?

SPEAKER_00 25:41

Well, I mean, normally we take a trip down spring break down to Pensacola Beach and get some good work in. We're not gonna be able to make that trip this year. Um, but uh coaching staff, I don't want to give away too much, but we we have one thing that we're gonna be doing um coming up later on this season. We'll keep that a secret. We we will for right now. But yeah, no, these guys, this is you know, and I it's a it's a big testament to last year's C seniors and this group. Um, the dugout culture at Lakewood is absolutely phenomenal. Um, these kids all get along, they all support one another. Um, there is no animosity or jealousy. They truly want to see everyone on the team succeed.

SPEAKER_04 26:26

As you say that, I see Brady Makesley and about three or four other teammates sitting at a table as we're doing this podcast.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Out here for support, I'm telling you, these guys are great. And fundraisers, uh fundraisers, so we always have our outfield slash um drive signs, they're three by five signs that um businesses can purchase. Um, and then we also run our vertical raise fundraiser, which is an online donation-based uh fundraiser, which we do really well on. I think the last time I haven't looked at it in a couple days, but I think we've raised uh just a little over$5,100. So that really helps. Um, you know, it helps supplement what we need over and above LAA. LAA gives so much money to not only our program but um all the kids and all the programs for the store. They do they do a phenomenal job. And I actually actually thank you. I was actually able to get down to the car party uh this year uh for the first time. Normally that weekend my daughters are either doing AAU volleyball or there's a dance recital going on or something, so I haven't been able to make it, but I made it out there this year and it was a whole lot of fun.

SPEAKER_04 27:38

I know I didn't go to the party, but about a half hour after it started, I got a text from Kevin Broadback who said they drew your ticket out already.

SPEAKER_00 27:48

Yes, they did. That's not good. No, it's not good, but I actually I actually went to a good cause. It did go to a good cause, but I was actually the one that that got the last 10 ticket out. I was my name got pulled out for that, and I was with the last group. So oh really?

SPEAKER_04 28:00

Wow, congratulations. We know who's buying afterwards after the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 28:05

There you go. That's right. So that's a good time.

SPEAKER_04 28:07

So you've talked about online. What are some of the websites that we could people could follow Liquid Baseball with?

SPEAKER_00 28:14

Uh so for baseball, the big one is Game Changer, uh, Game Changer app. That'll have all of our scheduling on there. Um, you'll be able to see uh clip highlights if we have somebody videotaping, but that you'll get a recap of every single game that's on there. You'll be able to see our record, um, things like that. We used to run, well, I used to run a website for it, but um it just became cost prohibited, and we kind of let that thing go. But yeah, game changer app, you can find all of our games on there. Um and yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:46

Do you have a Facebook page though, Lakewood Baseball?

SPEAKER_00 28:48

We we do. We have uh Lakewood Vikings baseball that people can um join. Uh it's a it's a private group uh that they need to be approved for. Um but yeah, I mean anybody that wants to reach out to me and say, hey, I'm interested in supporting the baseball program, and they can go ahead and request membership and I'll get them hooked up.

SPEAKER_04 29:08

I would, but I don't have Facebook. But smart man I'd like to ask this question to all the coaches and sometimes even the players. How do you feel, coach, about student leadership on the team?

SPEAKER_00 29:22

This year is uh outstanding. This is the first year that I have not named captains. This group of guys, every last one of them are leaders. Uh they know how to take charge, they know how to take criticism, they know you know that they need to be coachable, things like that. So looking preseason, like who are we gonna name as captains? And the list was the whole team. So um I'm really excited about that, truth be told. These guys do a great job of staying on task and like I said before, picking each other up and staying enthusiastic during the game.

SPEAKER_04 30:01

I'm glad you kind of mentioned that about captains because we had Adrian Almus on the show last week. Yeah, he talked about captains, but he goes, that's kind of an unrealistic expectation because just because you're not a captain don't mean you're not a good leader.

Photo #4

SPEAKER_00 30:16

Correct, absolutely, absolutely. And there's you know you want a true team culture, you know what I mean? You want everybody to feel invested um and as a part. And some years, okay, it works out, but truth be told, uh, this is the model that we're really looking forward to uh using going forward. Um I think these guys do a great job, especially with the young guys. We have a ton of freshmen this year on the JV team. I think it's like 85% of the JV team are freshmen as well, and that's including us bringing three up. So these guys get to lead by example for all these young guys and see how it's done and how they need to act and respond to coaches.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

What kind of training do you guys do in the off-season? Lifting weights, so running.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

Um, yeah, throwing the baseball, long toss. I'll throw some. I'll go to Coach P's and throw when it's cold out, and then I lift, and then my other sports kind of keep me conditioned.

SPEAKER_02 31:17

Um in years past I I usually play baseball throughout the season, so I'm usually having workouts for other like other teams, and then in the summer I play baseball every weekend. So in the offseason, I'm just I'm working for other teams too. So that keeps me pretty busy.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

And we really as a staff push the kids to play other sports. You know, when when they're in the fall sport, they need to be doing a fall sport. When they're in the winter sport, that's what they need to be doing. Now, they're all going to, especially when you're, you know, during basketball winter season, you know, we run our open gyms on Sunday afternoons, guys come in and they get a little bit of throwing, but everything is, you know, it's all optional, it's all volunteer, which is you know the way that it should be. So guys come in, they do a great job of finding time to come in, they're either doing that or they're going to Coach P's to get work in. Um but yeah, they they stay busy, nobody's sitting around, definitely.

SPEAKER_04 32:11

So Coach talks about you playing multiple sports and staying busy in the off season. To get away from sports, what are some of your hobbies?

SPEAKER_01 32:20

I like to lift and then I'll play some video games sometimes, not super often though. So lift it to school or do you lift other places?

SPEAKER_02 32:28

Uh I go to a gym. I wouldn't like a oh Vito's gym?

SPEAKER_01 32:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

So usually it's just hanging out with friends. I like to golf with with my buddies, that's pretty fun. Or with with my grandpa. I really like golfing with my grandpa, but other than that, it's really it.

SPEAKER_04 32:44

What about future plans? You guys are both seniors, you got what? How many days left? Or have you counted down yet?

SPEAKER_02 32:51

It's like I think it's like a month and a half, maybe end of May.

SPEAKER_04 32:55

No senioritis yet?

SPEAKER_02 32:56

Or maybe a little. Just a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 33:00

That's normal. So future plans though, have you looked at colleges, either one of you, or going into the workforce?

SPEAKER_01 33:06

I'm going into the workforce. I'm gonna be an electrician, or I'm gonna try to.

SPEAKER_04 33:10

That's a great choice. I mean.

SPEAKER_02 33:12

Yep. Uh I'm going into the Navy after high school.

SPEAKER_04 33:15

Oh, really? Wow.

SPEAKER_02 33:16

Yep. And tell everybody what you plan on doing, kids. So I I signed the contract already. I'm gonna be an air traffic controller on an aircraft carrier, so I'll be I'll be up in the tower on the city.

SPEAKER_04 33:26

That's a great choice. Thank you. Coach, what message do you have to both of these players as they are about to graduate and enter the next phase of their life?

SPEAKER_00 33:38

Well, it it's probably what's been preached to them through baseball for the whole time, which is just you know, discipline, look after your people, you know, because it takes a it takes a village, it truly does. Nobody's gonna succeed in life on their own. Um, or if they do, it's extremely difficult to so stay connected with your friends and family, uh, work hard, reach out to help. Um, men's mental health is something that I really focus on at this level with these guys, uh, especially our seniors that are gonna go out into the real world. Um, because it's tough, you know. When you when you leave high school, you know, you go from having all of these adults and mentors and coaches that are looking after you and and and giving you um encouragement, and then sometimes you'll get out of the workforce, especially if you're moving away from home um where you might be isolated a little bit. So do your best to stay connected with everyone um as much as you can. And um if you need help, reach out for help.

SPEAKER_04 34:39

I love that. What message do you guys have to each other?

SPEAKER_02 34:43

I don't know. Definitely just keep working hard for sure. Just keep keep drive keep your drive. You have a pretty good drive. Um, definitely stay in touch. It's gonna be a little harder after high school be. I don't know quite where I'll be yet, but definitely stay in touch.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

Yeah, I'm just hoping to stay in touch and just hope you do well in the Navy.

SPEAKER_04 35:04

And message to the youth that are just coming up like pee-wee, just grade school, the youth about baseball. What advice would you give them, coach?

SPEAKER_00 35:15

Just just keep playing baseball and and play baseball whenever you can. Uh, we have a you know a phenomenal facility. You know, well, I mean we have so much space here in town with the fields, you know, and and I drive by there quite often, and unless there's like a organized practice going on, a lot of times there's nobody out there. So um that's something that I would like to see a little bit more of. I mean, kids just playing. Um just get out and do something, you know, stay active.

Photo #5

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Um definitely, definitely just staying after. I think he I think he touched, he got a lot of the points there. But I don't know. If you've never done it before, go out and try it. You know, and maybe maybe it's one of the things that you don't love it, maybe it's not your thing, but maybe maybe you try it and it's your new favorite sport and that's what you want to do.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

I think if you do keep playing baseball, just cherish it because I mean it ends faster than you think. Yeah, it sure does.

SPEAKER_04 36:09

Life flies by. Okay, before we close the show, is there anyone, Coach, start with you, that you'd like to thank?

SPEAKER_00 36:18

Um, well, I'd like to thank my kids, uh Lucas, Elena, and Maya, um always supporting, being understanding, you know, when dad's away and has to miss things. Um they've always been positive and upbeat about it. Um my daughter will be out to the game probably tomorrow to cheer kids on or work the concessions or do something. Um but yeah, I'd like to thank them, you know, my folks, for instilling me the the desire to help others. Um that's something that's kind of lost a little bit of steam here. It it's becoming increasingly difficult to get folks to reach out and help and give of their time, which you know, I I understand there's there's all kinds of things going on in the world today that there wasn't, you know, 20, 30 years ago. Um but them they they've all been, my family's been a a big part of it. Love it.

SPEAKER_03 37:13

Thank you for the go let we go.

SPEAKER_00 37:16

That's right.

SPEAKER_04 37:17

Okay, Mr. Derek Gold Vikings. Hey Derek, how about them pissers beating the Lakers the other day?

SPEAKER_01 37:23

Okay, Lucas? I'd like to thank my parents, they've always been amazing. And my friends, I just I've always hung out with my friends a ton, and they've always been there. And also my brother, he's been like one of my best friends just all my life.

SPEAKER_02 37:39

I think the first person I'd like to thank is is God for sure for empowering me to be able to have the ability to play the sport of baseball and be who I am today for sure. Um, I'd like to thank all of my family, not just my parents. My parents have put in a lot of time and effort, but like I mean, I don't I can't name very many games where my grandpa hasn't been there, or my grandparents haven't been to my games. They always try to make it out. So definitely thank them. I'd like to thank Coach Tacey for sure for uh for putting some trust in me four years ago. Absolutely. And then definitely Bob Tingler for sure for just teaching me the teaching me to love the game and and give me the give me the same love that I have today.

SPEAKER_04 38:18

Well, I'd like to thank you all for being on tonight's show. Good luck tomorrow. We'll see you guys Saturday, I'll be at the softball games. Good luck the rest of your senior season. Thank you, thank you. Good luck in being an electrician, Lucas, and in the Navy Tanner. I want to thank Tommy and Judy Scheid, owners of Buddies on the Beach, for letting us record here live tonight. Go Vikings.