Thursday, December 20, 2001
Students say players from rival schools attend the Clippers' annual baseball clinic.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Baseball players and parents are lobbying the Columbiana Board of Education on behalf of ousted coach Bruce Wolfe.
"The players know what's best and we want Coach Wolfe to be our baseball coach," said Drew Bland, a junior.
At its November meeting, the board voted not to renew Wolfe's contract as varsity baseball head coach for the 2002 season. The board took no action Wednesday to reverse its decision.
Bland said the best example of the results of Wolfe's leadership is the team's annual instruction clinic.
"People from Crestview, Leetonia and Lisbon send their kids to us," Bland said. "They are our Tri-County League rivals, and they send their kids to learn baseball from us."
Strong bond: Josh Kistler, a senior, said the team won the league title this year, developed a strong bond and was looking forward to this season, with Wolfe at the helm.
He said the team signed a petition on behalf of Wolfe, and that senior players want Wolfe to be their coach in their final year.
Kistler, who stood before the board on crutches, said he had surgery last week, and Wolfe, even though he is now not the coach, called him and also got the team together to sign a get-well card.
Brian Seybert said as president of the Clipper Diamond Backers booster club, and the parent of a baseball player, "I soon found out the dedication and pride Wolfe shows can't be matched by any other person."
Wolfe, who teaches high school math, is in his 16th year in the district and has been varsity baseball coach for 12 seasons.
The teams have won nine Tri-County League titles.