Hoffer's High School Sports
Hoffer's High School Sports
John Eisenhart
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Cheverus' softball coach (and the older brother of my co-host) joins us to talk about his team, his generational pitcher, Addison DeRoche, his playing and coaching career, his family and his philosophies on life and coaching.
Seaport Credit Union is proud to sponsor Hofford's High School Sports, demonstrating our commitment to supporting Maine's young athletes both in the classroom and on the field. We invite you to celebrate their dedication and achievements by tuning in to Hoffers High School Sports Podcast and visiting its website for the most comprehensive coverage of local high school sports. For all of our podcasts, as well as a lot of articles, features, polls, and more, feel free to visit our website at HoffersHighschoolSports.com.
SPEAKER_02Well, Michael, we are slumming today. I'm uh I'm outnumbered here.
SPEAKER_03This is uh this is crazy.
SPEAKER_02I know. Uh you've got uh you've got you've got me. Yes, but I always have you. And then you've got my brother. Yes, which we don't normally have. You don't have the great Eisenheart, our mom.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, no. No, she would really complete this.
SPEAKER_02She would complete it.
SPEAKER_03Complete the circle. But I guess it's just the two of you. But yeah, how how exciting. You know, this is like old times here. Many, many, many years ago, your old coach's corner booth uh podcast. Thanks for the plug. I appreciate it. You had me on as a guest, and uh that that was good times a long time ago. But Coach John Eisenhart of the Chevrolet Staggs joining us here. And uh how does it feel to be hanging out with your brother and this other anonymous uh reporter here?
SPEAKER_01It feels great because every time I listen to this podcast, you guys are usually crapping on me. Well, now we can do it in person.
SPEAKER_03You know, to take a look at the case.
SPEAKER_02That's actually why we we invited you. Do you have a retort to our uh our trunks?
SPEAKER_03Something will come to you as as as we go along here. But the uh the 2026 season is underway for your stags, you're off to a very good start. And uh what are your initial impressions here this season?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so um, you know, I we had some holes to fill coming into the season, um three really great seniors that uh played, you know, really were starters for four years for us. Um and uh Ashley Connor and Bella Napolitano and uh and uh and Delhi and um and sh and so trying to fill those those roles for us you know was key kind of coming into the season. And I think we've uh we've done that. Um we took a trip to Florida and we were looking for a leadoff hitter, and I I think uh I think we found that in Cameron Gagnan. Um we um we also found you know a extremely productive player uh for us so far and and uh Maddie Brown, who was a junior varsity player last year, is really you know stepped up and um she's gonna see a lot of playing time and you know uh Bella Napolotato did a great job for the past couple years catching Addison DeRoche and Which isn't easy, right? Not not an easy task. Um the um and so this uh Temperance Lovejoy uh has come in and done a a really outstanding job. Uh so I feel like we filled those uh holes, but um, you know, we're we're veterans in some spots and we're we're young in other spots and and really my focus this time of year is really in building a team. Um I want you know always a goal for me, you know, going back to my days coaching at Westbrook. Um I want every kid to have a great experience. Uh whether they're you know they're Addison DeRoche or Haley Lamontane or you know they're you know they're a part-time player in the J Junior Varsity. I want them to have a great experience. It's always my goal, it's not always realistic because kids want to play, but uh this time of year is about you know understanding what you need to do better uh from uh from a game planning, from uh from a skill level, um, from a team team play perspective, but also understanding what you have in terms of personalities with the team and getting them all to mesh together.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. Uh take me back, you're during high class of 87.
SPEAKER_0187.
SPEAKER_03All right. So who was the better ballplayer growing up? You or Tim?
SPEAKER_01Not even close, Tim. Alright, I was gonna say that's a good answer. Not even close. Yeah. But I'll tell you my kind of, you know, I knew I felt like I would be a coach even back then because um, you know, Tim's two years younger than me, and I loved watching him play. Like I loved watching him play, and anything that I learned from a coach, I would go home and teach him every single night.
SPEAKER_02Every single night. Ed Flarity's voice is still ringing in my head through my brother's phone.
SPEAKER_01Honestly, that's a great story because the the um the the first time Ed Flarity did a uh hitting lesson uh for me was my sophomore year, and and you know what the way he taught it, and I couldn't, you know, I was like, wow, this is this is how you hit a baseball, you know, back then and couldn't wait to go home and and teach it to Tim. I I loved, you know, I remember when Tim was uh when he was 11 years old, he was on a little league all-star team that was went to the and this was back when Portland had 12 little leagues. Right. They won the city championship, then they won the district championship, and they went on to states, and he was one of the pitchers on that team, and I loved to go, we'd always go to the field, my parents would drop us off, we'd go to the field that he was going to pitch at beforehand, and I would catch him. And uh I just I just you know I I loved I loved watching him play, but also as his big brother, I loved to, I was probably his first coach, and yeah, I probably annoyed the ha heck out of him.
SPEAKER_02So that's why I crap on you on this uh podcast and I used to steal his food a lot.
SPEAKER_01Well, you're kind of doing that now. People can't see this point.
SPEAKER_03There are some cookies here, but these cookies were for me. So how did you get involved in coaching? What what happened that that allowed you to do this? And I know you've been very successful and you've done it off and on for a long time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so um, so you know, after I played college baseball with with Tim at Clarkson University, and um, you know, just always had that feeling, you know, uh the coaching bug, you know, always looked at it probably less as a player and more as a coach, even when I was playing. And I had, you know, a couple of coaches along the way say, you know, don't don't think so much, just play, you know, and that was good advice for me. Um but uh I answered an ad in a local when they used to put ads in papers for coaches when I was like a year out of college to coach uh a senior Lily team in uh in Falmouth. And um, and through that experience, um I met the person that started what is now the edge, four seasons baseball and and softball. Uh the um the woman that owned that was a woman named Peggy Siegel, and she uh I coached her son Dave. And so she she asked me, she liked me and asked me if I wanted to be one of the coaches there. And and at that time, you know, every every you know, Ed Flarity was working there, and every you know, really strong high school coach was was working there as long as some professional players that were in the area. So so that was you know, that was kind of the start of it for me, and I learned a lot from from from them. And you know, um, I used to, you know, I just love I love coaches. I love listening to coaches. I would be one of those guys that would listen to the press conference of the coach after the game, you know, and and uh would always, you know, uh try to try to learn something. Um and so so that was that was the start of it for me. And then from there, um, you know, I got uh I kind of went with that group of kids in in Falmouth uh and coached uh Legion baseball. So that was just another level. And uh so that was a lot of fun. Legion baseball in the late 90s was really, really good baseball. Um there weren't the travel teams around, so you'd so you'd have, you know, three or four teams combined in a town, and it was really, really high-level baseball. So um so I I did that for a couple years. Um, you know, then then kids came along and and then uh then I went to see this movie uh The Rookie. Okay. And um, and uh I remember I just have have always had that itch for coaching, and and we were riding back, Ann and I were riding back, and our kids were really little at that point, so it tells you what a great wife I have. Um she she you know she knew that I just kind of burned to coach. And so riding home from that movie was a it if you don't remember the movie, it's it's about a high school uh teacher that ends up uh, you know, it's a true story about a guy that uh was was a hard throwing uh left-handed pitcher, and but he was a high school coach, and he ended up making it to the big leagues, pitching for I think the Tampa Bay Rays and all that. And so, anyways, that movie really inspired me. I remember getting choked up during that and just you know riding home going, you know, this is what I love to do. I love I love I love coaching, and um, you know, I you know I applied at Westbrook High for the baseball job and and uh Westbrook had been you know pretty down over the years and stuff, so I I'm not sure what kind of competition I had in terms of timing. Getting that job. And um I had a great athletic director there, Matt Nelson, that took a chance on me and and um, you know, you know, we you know, I've really put my heart and soul into it. I recruited my brother Tim to come coach with me and some other some other guys that we knew and and um you know we were able to, you know, do very well very quickly, um, you know, because of the hard work of all the kids and and uh and that was a lot of fun. That was a place where much different than my experience at Chevers where you know where I kind of came in, I had really talented, you know, kids, and uh we really had to develop the talent at Westbrook and and uh and we uh you know we we had some success, you know, right, you know, right away and and I did that for five years and I I really got to the point where um I was you know I'm not a teacher, you know, um and I was missing a lot of my kids stuff and sure my wife was incredible and letting me kind of do that. Um and I I really I actually left when the the Little League World Series kids were coming in. And so uh a lot of coaches leave when the talent is uh is leaving, and uh I left when the talent is really coming in. And so I knew I knew that what I knew I left it in a better spot than I found it, and I felt really good about that, but I also really had the tug to you know to uh um you know to to make sure that I was there at my kids' games, and that was you know a decision that I I've never I've never regretted. Um, you know, I got a chance to coach them in everything, and not because I've wanted I love to coach and I always, you know, with your children, you gotta make sure that they want you to be the coach too. So uh the answer was always always yes.
SPEAKER_03So and you know, all you know, your kids either love baseball or softball, right? So I mean it it made for an easy, yeah, easy sell job, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean I think we we kind of joke in our family that our oldest daughter Miranda was very um very much, you know, uh could have been into the the arts and and drama and and and other things if she hadn't been in such a um you know uh uh sports driven family, you know. Uh you know, uh my wife Ann, her brother uh Gary Lapierre was a you know is in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, played at the University of Maine, was a captain at Maine, and so she grew up going to all of his games. She she loves, you know, she loves going to the game, she loves she loves baseball, she loves softball, you know. So, you know, the cool thing is I left Westbrook um in uh in 2007 and um I was coaching seven uh seven-year-old girls in softball, you know. So my girls introduced me to fast pitch softball. And so um, so I you know I fell in love with with that and and uh and they you know they led me to uh to Greeley High School and and in coaching there and and that was I was an assistant coach there and uh only because the head coach Rob Hale asked me if I would help. And well he needed help And I'm not even talking about softball. He was you know he you know a great swim coach, but uh was not you know he said hey I'm not the X's and O's person, but he was great at team building and getting kids to play, and and so we had a lot of fun, you know, coaching, you know, Miranda, our my oldest, um, and then then Lindsay for all four years. Um, you know, we you know we made you we made it to state championship with Lindsay and we we went to a regional final with uh with Miranda and uh um so we we had a lot of fun and then I was able to coach our son AJ in you know uh in basketball, which I don't know much about, but I I learned from other coaches and and certainly in baseball, coached them all the way through and his group of kids through and then handed them off to very competent uh coaching staff at Greeley High and when he was in high school.
SPEAKER_03Tim, what do you I mean you you've seen John coach John? What what stands out for you that's made him successful?
SPEAKER_02Uh I don't I've never seen anybody, we've had long conversations about this too. I've never seen anybody pull together uh a group of kids like my brother. That's it's it's the pinnacle of why he coaches is to create an experience of um that kids will never forget. That it's you know that you know I think that O5 team was we we we pulled them along, you know, it wasn't a it wasn't kind of a push, it was a pull. And by the time they were done, those kids to this day would their best friends, you know, and they they all grew up together, but the the reason why they were like that is because my brother would host team dinners. I think he spent more I think he was probably getting paid like thirty five hundred bucks to coach the team at the time. It wasn't for anything other than to watch kids grow into men and to appreciate their teammates, and we really we didn't care if we won or lost. We still to this day I don't think my brother gives a crap about winning and losing. It's all about the experience and teaching them how to be good people within an environment and and to pull for each other and to pick each other up. And you know, his kids his kids are like that too. It's the way he grew, you know, he raised his own kids. His kind of the the value system is is instilled into the kids. And because of that, kids have a better experience, and I think winning comes because of that. And he everywhere he goes, he he wins, and it's not because he's talking about winning, he's talking about all the other stuff, and it's it's it's what separates him as a coach.
SPEAKER_03I mean you you said you wanted to have Tim on your staff. What was the reason for that? What did he bring?
SPEAKER_01He's uh completely different personality than me. Um and I love that because he sees the world differently, and I need that sometimes. Um I'm a little bit of a a puppy, you know. I kind of I love everybody, and and I'm not saying that he doesn't, I'm just saying that he just brings a different perspective and challenges me on things that you know because he sees the world differently. He does it, you know, in our you know, personal lives, and and uh I always listen to my to my brother, but also he um he's also the best hitting coach that I know. So so um and so he you know he was you know we really were able to kind of separate, you know, he took he took the took the offense and and I took the the you know the defense, you know, pitching and the and the defensive uh piece of it, and he um, you know, he's you know, so so we we really you know we've been very complimentary, you know, in terms of our our our coaching together. So um I call him the hit doctor, you know. If you get a if your if your swing needs uh some medicine, go see the hit doctor. And I would find him down at the field, you know, when he at that point in his life he didn't have children, and so he could be there for the kids a little bit more, and I'd show up and there'd be, you know, four or five kids there taking taking BP from from Tim and he's working on their swings and and uh and that gosh that really that really that really helped us, you know, get get good very quickly.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Let's go back to 2005 for a minute. Everyone forgets the year before it was the unbelievable deering team that went undefeated, won a state title. Those kids went on and won a national championship in uh in the American Legion with Nova Seafood. The following year, 2006, Portland had an undefeated season, lost in the state game, but was another phenomenal team. I mean, the just the state of Western A or whatever it was back in those doubles for a Westbrook team to kind of come out of nowhere and go to a state final. I mean, that had to be what a magical run that must have been.
SPEAKER_01It was it was incredible. Uh and I I you know I I think about like the the work that was put into it and the kids that uh that bought into what we were trying to do, you know, and and you know, I really have an incredible group of kids this year, uh but so did I do I did back then as well. But there are different different challenges there, you know. Um you know, single family homes and and and different different types of challenges with with different kids and some some kids living with their grandparents and because mom and dad, you know, you know, had substance abuse issues or things like that. And so I I I I I think about that and and uh and but I also think about you know sitting in the stands and people telling me, you know, Westbrook, you know, with you know under 700 kids, you know, I remember the principal say, yeah, we get some ghosts in here that keep us in clo class A. And people saying there's no way you'll compete with Daring Portland. And and um, you know, you think about back then, you know, you know, Ryan Flaherty and Ryan Reid and you know uh Mark Rogers and Mark Rogers and Joby, and uh and you know, we you had you know kids that went on and played in the big leagues and and uh and Portland always always had great you know great teams. Ryan Baker, um there's a ton of kids I'm forgetting, Joey Martin and the Furbush kid, even that South Portland Craig was a very good thing. I mean that was the league was unbelievable. Um and uh and so and so the cool thing was we we found you know Westbrook's a baseball city, so you you kind of just had to stoke that um you know stoke the fire a little bit there and and uh and you know I think what Tim and I we both worked at this four seasons baseball. We always said, you know, we're giving them a um, you know, we're giving you we everything we learned there, we taught them, right? So and we and they got it for free, you know. So so uh you know, they didn't have the money to go, you know, spend the time in those facilities, but we were able to give that uh to them. And you know, um we you know coming into that 05 season, Daring was ranked in the top 20 in the country, rightfully so because of the 04 national championship that they had, and and uh and um we did luck out a little bit because we had trouble beating them, but we some reason we had Portland's number and and uh and then uh of course uh due to terrible coaching we lost in the state championship game. So the eight days of rain that before that. We got rained on a little bit, but uh but you know, I remember the kids, you know, one of the kids at the the banquet that year, they you know, we had 13 seniors on that team, and um, so we really had to reload and uh in in 06 and 07. And but um, you know, I remember one of them saying it just made me really, you know, proud. He's like, hey, you know, and this was after we lost. He's like, you know, coach, you know, I want to thank you for everything you've done for us. You know, we didn't we never won anything before you. And and what made me feel great was kind of what Tim was saying, was those guys, you know, they get together still, and they, you know, you know, there's like nine or ten of them that they still get together every year and they talk. And and I've been to um, you know, multiple weddings, as has Tim. Uh I married one of our players. Uh, you know, I was the justice of the beats for one of our players. And I I kind of joke about that at at Chevras because I'm like, you know, my goal is um, you know, is to build relationships with you guys so that you would think enough of me that you'd want to invite me to your wedding, you know, something special like that. And that's that's always my goal. And you know, it doesn't always work out that way. Um you know, because you're you are a coach and you have to make decisions um that sometimes you know the kids might not agree with and certainly the parents may not might not agree with. Um, you know, and uh, but it's always my goal. It's always my goal. I think one of the things, you know, one of the players that I'm most proud of is is Andy Coulomb, who's now the you know, the the Westbrook coach. And and um Andy will tell you, you know, he he wasn't the you know, he wasn't the top player, you know, but he was really, really he's he is really smart. And he was a he's a he's a he was a great baseball guy and and and uh you know I'm I'm so proud of him and what he's accomplished already. And he's still a young coach. Uh you know, and and he he was a player that you know that uh I I you know really loved and and and wanted to make sure that he had a great experience. And I think about his experience and then I think about you know, we had kids that played, you know, Division I baseball, like Jordan Peerington, we had Anthony D'Alfonso that played, you know, professionally um in in the United States and in and Mexico. And you know, we had you know uh we had all stars, you know, we had kids that went on to play at USM and do very well and St. Joseph's like Andrew Kearstead did you know had incredible careers there, and so um very very proud of that. And yeah, and and uh so that's that's I that's the way I look at it, and that's the way I always look at it. And and and Ted, you know, I think Amy sometimes gets frustrated me because she she calls me Ted Lasso and um you know Amy's the athletic director, you know, and I'm like I just you know I just wanna I wanna create a great experience. And don't don't get me wrong, I'm I'm you know, I I'm competitive, but I wanna I wanna win, but I want to win the right way and and uh um and and I want the kids to I want the kids to you know be at their best when their best is required. Like that's that's that's That's what I'm always trying to do. And and that's n not just their play on the field, but that's um that's how they interact with with one another and and and their coaches and and the opposing team.
SPEAKER_03Um taking the shiver's job, what uh what appealed to you about that and how did that come about? It's funny.
SPEAKER_01I I I didn't seek it at all. Um it was uh I was it was the money, wasn't it? It was the money. It usually is, yeah. So I was coaching uh you know, the our kids, you know, had we're out of high school, in college, Ann and I are empty nesters. Uh of course my mom lives with us, but uh these different animals. Um but uh you know I I I just I love to co I love kids, I love coaching, and so Billy Goodman needed uh a first team coach, so I'm coaching first team basketball. And again, um, you know, someone like Tim or Billy or somebody that knows something about basketball, um you know, they I don't see what they see when I when I when I watch a basketball game, but uh I know enough to I I'm a somewhat responsible adult and uh he needed that, and so and I was looking to have some fun and you take stats very well. And I am the iPad guy on the bench, yeah, uh for him. But um but no, it was that, and then I met uh Teresa uh Arsenal and she was helping Billy Coach at that time, and and uh she was uh pregnant with their first uh child, and she we had worked together and she she you know thought we had, you know, uh you know, we thought we saw things the same way, and so she came up to me one day at practice and said, Hey, I'm I'm pregnant, and looks like the baby's gonna come the first couple weeks of the softball season, wondering if you might be able to help me and at you know, basically do the day pitchers and catchers start. So um, so I said, Yeah, well, you know, I'll help out, but I've got this, you know, corporate job and I'm gonna kind of fade into the background. And well, the night before, uh, you know, I think she made it through pitchers and catchers, and then the night before the full team showed up, she called me and said, Hey, I'm going in, team's all yours for a few weeks. So I had the team for a few weeks, and um, and then she, you know, she came back and she's extremely competent. So I kind of kind of stepped back and helped her do with some scouting and some assistant coaching, and and then you know what happens is you just fall in love with the kids. And and uh, and then she so I was content to be her assistant and help out, and and then um and she um she she you know got the job at um at St. Joe's and Amy approached me, um, and and I you know I think it's the kids. You know, I I think you know it's like man, I I I love coaching, but you know, once you get to know the kids, and it's every every year I tell in this is my last year, and I think I do that every year. And then and then uh and then you you know then you meet the kids and it's it's really hard to you know to to walk away, you know, especially if it's been a good experience. And it was. It was you know, I had a great experience. We we had a nice upset in the playoff game with with with Teresa and and and that and that team, and then uh kind of rolled in. And you know, people might think, hey, you know, boy, you just wanted to be there when when Addison DeRoche came. And I didn't and I love Addie now, but I had no idea who she was when I took the job. I had absolutely no idea. I knew I knew the kids from the previous year. I knew I you know I had known Haley Lamontane for a few years um before that because she came and played some travel softball with with on Lindsay's team, and so um, and she's just a wonderful kid that any any coach would be you know just blessed to be able to coach. And and then of course uh Billy's daughter Anna was there, and I've known Anna since she was a baby. And so um so anyways, that was that's how it happened, and then you know, every year I say I was gonna be my last year, and then and then I then at the end of the season I go, man, that was fun, and let's go do it again.
SPEAKER_03I mean that first year was magical, right? I mean, you knew you were gonna you have a great player, you have a great pitcher, and that's a big part of success in softball. But to make a run to beat Wyndham in that epic regional final, my money, the best softball game that's ever been played at the high school level in Maine, unforgettable. And then the uncertainty of whether or not you're gonna have Addison for the state game. Yeah, uh she flies in, it's like something that movies are made of. You guys win the championship. I mean, what what a what an amazing uh run that was and what great memories, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_01It it was it was so much fun, and and um, and you know, I I I look back and think about like you know, just the league reminds that the league, at least that year and even last year, reminded me of what it was like when Tim and I were coaching. That the talent level was incredible. I mean, we I went through and did some stats for Haley Lamontane that she's looking to move on to the next level, and all the division one pitchers we faced, you know, um, there's like six or seven in in our league. And so, and and Wyndham had two. So um, so yeah, that was an that that was an incredible game. And I I don't know if people know this, but uh during that game, um Addison had kind of laid out her, you know, what what looked like you know was going to be her travel schedule. And her mom and dad had said uh through that game, I I I knew we wouldn't have, I didn't think we'd have her for the state championship game. So whatever happened, I was like, this in my mind, I didn't tell the kids, but in my mind, I was like, this is our state championship game if she's not able to to be there. Uh and they were her mom and dad were you know completely up front with everything and and as they uh they have through the whole through through everything with with Addison. Um but uh you know to be able to, you know, I remember just looking out and just smiling at you know and just going, isn't this great? And I you know, driving Amy Ashley crazy. She's like, would you stop saying that? Because she was she was you know she was worried about the game, and I'm like, this is incredible. What an incredible experience for our kids. I think you get a little bit older and you realize how special that that atmosphere was. And and then, you know, like you said, um, you know, there was a thunderstorm the night before the uh state championship game, and uh flights get delayed. And uh we and when it comes to Chevrolet's softball, flights do get delayed. You know, you've had a regular experience. She didn't get in until like early Saturday morning. And and uh and we have some team rules around, you know, that was one of the things I talked to Addison and her mom and dad about is like, you know, uh I I have to apply the rules equally to everybody, no matter what the talent level is. And and um, but for that situation, you know, I I went to the team and she was gonna miss a couple of practices, and I said, Hey, does does, you know, does anybody not want her to pitch that game, you know, to say she can bring her back? Because she she had said she wasn't gonna be there, and then she came back for us, and that was you know, that was incredible. And I also think about that game, and you can't, you know, if I threw Addison out there um without a catcher, the ball would go to the backstop every time. And and if I only she only batted, we'd have eight outs. Um I think about that state championship game, and she pitched incredible, but um, you know, Haley La Montagne, you know, carried us with her bat and in that game, and and uh and um and I think about some of the plays that were made in the Wyndham game that helped us win, and they were so good. They are st they still they're still good. Um, you know, Bella throwing out uh Brooke Gary, who's incredible, fast, you know, uh, you know, throw through her out stealing in the first inning, and Ashley Connor with a backhanded, you know, play who's really a middle infielder that I put at first base because everyone bunts against us, and uh and um and Delia Tremble, um, the base hit that she got, she dropped one in, and I think about that game Anna Goodman hit one to the warning track, and that kind of kept Wyndham back a little bit, and probably that drops in because of Anna's warning track power and then Kelsey Cassidy with kind of that single up the middle and and um you know just on and on and on. There's so many it to win a game like that or or any game, you have to, you know, players have to show up. And and we, you know, last year we lost to Wyndham one to nothing. I was very proud of the way we played defensively. You know, I thought Addison pitched well enough for us to win. Um, you know, I really after that game, I kind of tipped my cap to the um to Kennedy Kimball and the game that she pitched and and Stella Jarvis, the game that she called. Um, you know, but um I want to make sure that my team is is is ready to play. There was, you know, uh the I'm trying to get them to the next level. I'm trying to pull the greatness out of them and and hold them to a little higher standard this year. And so that's why if you interview me at the game, I might sound a little grumpy sometimes if I don't feel like uh we played to our uh ability level like like like as was last night.
SPEAKER_03You know, it you guys have a lot of pressure on you though. I mean you're wearing the bullseye. You're I know you like to say you're chasing, but you're clearly the favorite this season after what Wyndham graduated and you still have Addison and you in a lot of ways your your lineup's probably even better than it was. So is is that something that that wears on the girls at times, or are they pretty good at handling that?
SPEAKER_01I don't know what you're talking about. We're not the champs. We're not the champs. Wyndham's the champs. That's true, they are. And uh we're chasing Wyndham. Um, I mean I think I think when you have a player like Addison, you know, everyone wants to give her her best shot, and and if you hit a line drive off of Addison, you know, you you can tell your grandkids about it, you know, and and when kids get up there, you know, they get their best shot. And there are kids that can really play in this league. Um Emma Boole is is one, you know, for Westbrook. Um she had some really good swings uh against against Addison, and and that's not because Addison was uh at her best, it's because Emma Boole is a really good player. And so we we that's the thing we found when we were in Florida is man, you know, we played um the 10th ranked team in the country, and it was a 0-0 game through six innings, and then uh and and and and we end up losing four to nothing. But uh that was the first day, and then by the third day, a team that you know lost four to three to Mount Verde, so they're as good, and they're probably in the top 20. I don't I don't really I only know Mount Verde because they have it on their website. Um but uh but this other team is every bit as good as Mount Verde, and and uh we were winning one nothing, we were uh we were down, and then we were down five three at one point, and if we'd have stayed there two more weeks, we would have adjusted to that. So I think that's what's really incredible for me is like the the players that we have up here, um, they're really good. They're really good. I mean, I mean um you know we uh you know I it would have been fun to stay there, stay two more weeks and play every day and to see how we would do in that league. Um and and I would I wouldn't say that's just a Chevras thing, you know. Um some of the top tier teams in our league could go down there and compete and kids figure it out. You know, they figure out the time, you know, it's really timing, right? Timing to the softball and um you know whether it's a fast pitcher or a slow pitcher, and and uh certainly the movement, you know, makes it harder to hit. But uh but yeah, I mean we just again, yeah, so I'm I'm you know, we we really have to have that one mid day at a time mentality. We we have we you know we have to define things to get to get better at, and we there are things we need to get better at, and um and then you get into a game, you know you know um it's a one-nothing game last year, right? And and uh you know the emotions in those games, they're they're you go from really high to really low and and you know really it is the team that you know I think what I did not do as good a job as I did uh the year before was you know really um keeping my team at an even keel. You know, I think we we had too many highs and too many lows in that game, and and so I come into the season, I you know, I need to do a better job of that, um and keeping it loose and smiling and enjoying and looking around and I don't really didn't have that mentality in that game last year. And I so I you know as a coach you always think about what could I do better, you know, and and that's certainly something that I'm I'm trying to do better this year with the team.
SPEAKER_03Addison's generational, you've mentioned that on many occasions. What's it like coaching someone like that? Is is it like I don't want to mess her up, or is it I've I'm so lucky to have her, I'm gonna ride her as far as I can.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think I think as as our relationship you know builds, you know, um it's um yeah, I think my first year was really trying to understand um what she needs from me. Um so you know, she has a pitching coach. Um I'm not a pitching guru when it comes to uh fast pitch softball. Uh so it's understanding what what she needs from me. You know, she's she's like that um and Tim was a high school teacher for many years, you know, you get those kids that are brilliant in your classroom, right? And then you have kids that you know maybe struggle with math. Tim Tim taught math. So I look at her as someone that you know is that that that uh that brilliant kid uh that is um that that needs something different from me than maybe uh you know another kid on the team. So it's trying to give her what she needs from me. Um I do find myself um you know, we had some great conversations last year, you know, that I think helped build our relationship. Um and um so I try to really understand, you know, what she needs from me. Uh we talk about what her pitching coach is talking to her about so that I can reinforce those things in the game. Um, you know, after an inning, you know, I do her pitch calling, so you know, you know, here's what I'm thinking you, you know, is how you know how do you feel about it? She she has the ultimate say and I let her I let her shake me. Um and and and I because I want her to feel committed to whatever pitch, you know, it is. But but yeah, I mean it's it's it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun, especially when you have a kid that is just as talented as she is, she's equally uh just a sensational kid. She works her butt off in the classroom. Um she's she's very spiritual and religious. Um she's a great teammate. You know, when I give her a compliment, the first thing is she defers to somebody else. And so um, so so yeah, it's it's trying to give her what what she needs, but also, you know, that may be challenging her sometimes, and I think I've probably done that a little bit more this year than I have, but it's only because I feel like we've built a relationship where where where I can challenge her and and uh and uh you know, but you know, I I said this to you too. I mean, I've I've got I've got a lot of great players, you know. So I mean Haley Lamontaine is as good a hitter as I've ever coached, baseball or softball. Um she's um she she's a division one uh you know softball player. Um she um she she she has that kind of ability. Um it blows me away that the University of Maine doesn't isn't beating her door down to come there. Now she wants to go south and all that stuff, but but um but uh you know she she's she's a you know uh a generational kind of player, you know, for me. And so I I you know and I've got I've got a lot of I've got a lot of good players, right? So it's it's it's much different. You know, we're we're we're working on everything with them. You know, I think when Tim and I were coaching together, it was like one through nine, what do they need to to work on to get better? And and that's that's uh you know, it's and for me it's it's not just nine, right?
SPEAKER_02It's I have a lot of it's it's the it's a nine, it's a ten, eleven, twelve that could dictate a you know, a season or not, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, and you never know, you know what what could happen, and and um you know, so so you wanna you want to get every everybody you know uh Tim and his buddies always joke with me that I first thing I said at Westbrook is we're just trying to get better every day. And that's I don't think anything's changed, you know, um when it comes to that, and including me, including me as a coach. I think I was joking with you early in the season. I was like, uh that guy's a good coach. And that guy's a good coach too, and that guy's a good coach. And I said, Well, you know, Mike, I'm probably the worst coach in the league.
SPEAKER_03Come on, you're probably middling. Yeah, I'm middling.
SPEAKER_00I like that.
SPEAKER_02Um I I was gonna uh I was I was d at the end of most interviews, you do a uh word association, name association. Do you want to take them? Do you have some?
SPEAKER_03I I don't have many because I've kind of we've kind of gone over most of the ones I would have gone with, but feel free. Mortal.
SPEAKER_01Oh, uh the immortal soul. Um uh he was my high school coach. And funny, funny story is uh he was uh his son was my son's high school coach. So um right. Full circle. Um yeah. Uh when I think about Mort, I think about um just a great hitting coach. Um he taught me how to hit, you know, in high school. I could not hit until I I you know he taught me how to hit, and um, but just uh you know, when you go from Ed Flarity to Mort's soul, it's a different, different vibe, you know. Um, you know, uh, you know, um Mort was uh Mort Mort's uh he's the immortal one, he's a he's a character, but uh he doesn't get enough credit for being a good baseball coach.
SPEAKER_02Scott Smalley.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, college coach, small boy. Um yeah, I just remember him I remember him refusing to pitch behind the L screen and then getting off the dome. And uh I was I think I was you know just shagging balls in the L field, and uh I was the closest one to a phone in in 19, what was that, 1992?
SPEAKER_00No cell phones back then, so I ran to call the ambulance uh for for our six foot four uh two hundred and seventy-five-pound coach. It was okay. Did a tree fall hard as that.
SPEAKER_02We got right back up to the better.
SPEAKER_00I remember, coach, you want the L-screen? No, no, I'm good. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Seven stitches later, he wanted the L screen after that. Uh you already covered Andy uh Andy Coulomb. Russ Willette.
SPEAKER_01Oh, Russ. Russ. I actually ran into Russ yesterday. So Russ was one of the first uh assistant coaches that we had at um at Westbrook, and uh, you know, just uh outstanding guy, and and uh it's kind of funny and fun that he's kind of come full circle and now he's helping Andy. So he was there when the rebuilt of Westbrook baseball happened, and it looks like he's you know there again.
SPEAKER_02Uh Lindsay Eisenhardt.
SPEAKER_01Oh, it's my doodle buck. Uh yeah, so so Lindsay uh is is helping coach this year, and it's been just uh a lot of fun. And she uh she records every pitch for me and re- and before the next batter comes up, she tells me uh what we got her out on or uh what we started her with uh and what we started her with, and if there's if there's a hit, you know, what the pitch was and where the location. So extremely valuable. Um when we played Wyndham it you know two years ago in the final and and and Lindsay recorded every pitch so we uh in the game before that, so I knew I knew which ball that uh Kennedy Kimball hit for a home run in the in the in the final and uh of the season finale. So um you know Lindsay's doing a great job as as a coach, and and uh I'm very lucky. I have actually have I have uh I have uh Danica Gleason on the staff. That was my next one. And Danica Danica's probably the best position player I've ever seen play in Maine. She played on a team with Miranda one summer, and and I always tell Danica one of the things I loved is which or she she played for the legendary uh Ralph Asito. Yeah. And Ralph was the summer coach, and um, and uh I remember Ralph would he'd play everybody and and he would challenge everybody even in summer and he would sit everybody. So I remember not really knowing Danica well that well, knowing how great she was, and I remember she uh he um he sat Danica and I'm I'm thinking to myself as a coach, like I'm gonna see what what is she made out of, you know, she gonna she gonna powder and no she actually was the best teammate too. So I always say that about Danica. She was not only the one one of the best the best position player I've ever seen. Um she's you know infielder I've ever seen. She could hit too, really, really hit. Um but she she was a great teammate, and when she s it was expressed some interest in coming to coach with us, I was like, I'm all in. So I've always been a fan of hers. And you know, we have Carrie Heaven, who's uh who's gonna be the um uh the assistant principal now at Chevris. She's just a high character person who has the pulse of the kids and and knows knows every kid. Um we were able to retain Ralph Hendricks uh from so Ralph is still with us. He coached with his daughter Teresa for many, many years, and so he's um just just an incredibly incredible guy. And and then the other co-RGV coach is Kelsey Courier, who who I had the pleasure of coaching from the age age eight all the way through through high school and called her pitches when when she was in high school. Another great one. Yeah, she was ice cold, ice in her veins. Despite her parents. She's such a spite of Damon Avell. Just kidding, Damon Avell.
SPEAKER_02Uh AJ Eisenhower.
SPEAKER_01Oh, my boy with Pride and Joy. Yeah. So uh yeah, no, he uh he you know the girls were girls were incredible to coach. Paige and I battled and and um and uh because I was always challenging him and he was challenging me. He's a lot like our our relationship, you know. And yeah, he uh but he was a gamer. He was a hundred percent a gamer, and he and he uh he always asked me to coach. You know, he always asked me to come back and coach. And uh and sometimes I'd say, Man, I'm sorry I got on you. He's like, Dad, he's that it's okay. He goes, one thing I love about you is you you do always listen. You listen.
SPEAKER_02So and all of us all of his friends loved having you as a coach too. They all talk about it. Some of them worked worked with AJ Seal Coating and they all talked about how much they you were one of their favorite coaches.
SPEAKER_01So much fun. So much fun.
SPEAKER_02Miranda.
SPEAKER_01Ah she she's my baby. I remember um you know being being able to coach her in high school was just oh it was so great. So great. I I I um you know I you know Rob asked me to coach when Miranda was a junior and and uh and we just had so much fun together. I remember again she was the kid that you know she's a school teacher now in Yarmouth and she's she's uh but she was a kid that you know when I first started pitching to her I'd throw the ball at her waist and she would swing around her shoulders you know and and then she became a really really good softball player and and the times with her and Lindsay down at the Greeley softball field though those are those are just the the best memories for me. That was more than just that was just us down there together on the field no one around talking about you know their swing but just living life together and and father-daughter times like um so just uh just incredibly great memories and I I kind of think sometimes one of the reasons why I the these girls on my team I I look at them as like you know they're they're not my daughters they're not my daughters but but that experience that I had with my with my girls um was such a great experience that you know it kind of makes me feel that way and and uh so that's probably why I'm still coaching.
SPEAKER_02Last but not least An eisen hurt.
SPEAKER_01Oh God where would I be without her yeah um I don't know what what can you say about somebody that just every crazy idea you have she's 100% on board uh with with um and uh just always supportive and and uh she's uh she's she I've had a crush on her and she she probably won't listen to it the same way so I'll tell everybody else. What do you mean freshman year in high school I had a I saw her in the hallway and I was like I had a crush on her right away and I had to wait till uh saw a junior year in college before I had a chance to date her and and uh and uh so been been in love with her since I was 14 and I'm I'm 56 so that's great yeah love story yeah that's awesome yeah now the I mean this this is it's been a great conversation thank you for being so forthright and I mean we we touched on a lot of topics here and not not always easy ones but I thank you for that I wish you good luck the rest of the year I have a feeling you guys might play into June so I think we'll make it to June yeah I think you think you'll make it to June see how everything works out from there but uh I I I I've got a great group I believe in them and and uh and I think uh I think this the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time I tell that to the kids and uh and I love going to practice every day with them. So yeah. Good stuff. Well thank you again. All right thank you Michael thanks Tim you're welcome John