If you only knew the power of the game...
Like in inter-hall football, Steds baseball has had an amazing run this Fall. The man behind it all is Coach Chris Hecht, Steds senior and RA. Channeling the spirit of his Cincinnati Reds and combining his actuarial powers, Hecht has steered the Steds squad to the playoffs. When I caught up with him, Coach Hecht had a lot to say...
StEd: If I remember correctly, you’ve been the head coach several times. Someone in the sports world say the definition of insanity is more or less “doing the same thing over and over, again, expecting different results.” So, what are you doing differently this year than in previous years to avoid the insanity?
Hecht: Actually, this is my first year stepping in as Head Coach of the Resilient Steds Baseball Team, so I’ve had big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of Hall of Fame Steds Coaches PJ Moran, Dan Rish and John Planek. However, I have had Head Coaching experience coming from when I coached the Steds Bowling team to a second place finish in last year’s Interhall Bowling Championship. My goal for this year’s baseball team coming into the season was to translate the success I’ve seen on the lanes into success on the baseball diamond. In order to avoid the insanity of last year’s wild 2-2 finish (barely missing the playoffs), I’ve recruited plenty of young freshmen talent. After all, they won’t remember the last year’s insanity if they weren’t here last year. This year was all about rebuilding the team from the bottom up and I feel like we’ve done a great job with the 7 freshmen and 2 transfer sophomores we have on our active roster. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has contributed to our phenomenal season. I expect even greater things next year.
StEd: Rumor in the Hall is that you are injured. Is that true?
Hecht: The rumors that I played a game while injured are in fact true. I had a little run-in wrestling a bear in the woods that caused me to tweak my ankle the night before our matchup against Carroll. We pulled out an 8-3 victory in the game, so that’s really all that matters at this point.
StEd: The excitement is tangible as your squad is poised to be in playoff contention. How are you directing that excitement into productive play on the field?
Hecht: The excitement in the air surrounding our team’s 3-1 first place finish was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Fans lined the streets trying to get pictures with and autographs from our players. It’s just a surreal feeling. Going into the playoffs as the number 2 seed was a goal that I’ve dreamt about achieving since childhood. With excitement levels high, our spirits were even higher. Our guys know the importance of not getting caught in the moment and not even for a second did I see their level of play decline.
StEd: You know, a lot of Ed’s workers have made mistakes in the kitchen. What a mistake that you have made as coach?
Hecht: As the Head Coach/General Manager of such an elite squad, I know I’ve had a lot of pressure on me to turn a program that just missed the playoffs last year into a championship caliber team. With such a short season, I had to make sure I kept the mistakes to a minimum. When it comes to baseball, setting the right batting order is one of the biggest effects you can have on the team as manager. I took a chance right off the bat by loading the top of our order with rookies. In our very first game (our only loss of the regular season 6-3 to Knott), this strategy paid instant dividends as we jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first. But I feel like the lack of much veteran presence caused us to get in over our heads too quickly. I take full responsibility for the slip up. But everyone learned from the experience and we didn’t look back from there.
StEd: When the season is over, what are you going to take away from these past four years as you leave the baseball diamond for thebery last time?
Hecht: As the season comes to a close, it is with great remorse that I must announce my retirement from the position of Head Coach and General Manager of the Steds Baseball team. It was a decision that took a lot of deep intrapersonal reflection, but I believe that it’s best for the team to move on without me at the helm. I believe I have paved the way for a Steds baseball dynasty and I have full confidence that my successor will take the team even further. As I step off the diamond for the last time, I look back at the great memories I’ve been able to share with some great teammates. We won as a team and we lost as a team. Those are the intangibles you can’t coach. My days are numbered, but the future is bright. From my perspective, you can’t really ask for much more.
Thanks Coach Hecht... you'll be missed next Fall!
