Q. How long have you coached?

Q. How long have you coached?

A. I’ve coached for the past six or seven years. I started with my son Lucas when he played tee ball and coached him through the 11-12 division. After he decided to stop playing, I began coaching my daughter Courtney. I’ve coached her from the tee ball level up to the 9-10 division she plays in now. I hope to keep coaching for a long time. I’d like to continue to coach my daughter until high school.

Q. What is your occupation?

A. I’m a business owner. I have run the Lisbon Pattern Company in Lisbon since 2002.

Q. What age level do you prefer to work with?

A. I probably prefer the 9-10 girls age group. Girls have a different attitude and approach to the game than boys do at that age. They haven’t fully gripped the idea of competing against the other team like the boys have at that age. Not that the boys aren’t fun. I really enjoyed the 9-10 boys because that’s the first year the kids, not coaches, pitch to each other.

Q. What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching?

A. To see a smile on one of my players’ faces after the game — win or lose. Just by looking at their faces sometimes it’s hard to tell if we’ve won or lost by 10 runs. The joy the kids have for playing the game is the best part.

Q. What was your reaction the first time you took your son to play at the new complex?

A. I was just in awe, that everything was here in one place. At that time, every field was ready except the high school boys field. I was just happy that everything was going to be in one spot.

Q. When you played ball, were any of the fields together?

A. None. I think there were at least six places where Lisbon had fields then. Now, from kindergarten through high school, you’re in one spot. If parents have two or three children playing, they’re only a field or two away.

Q. Did you campaign hard to become LBSA president?

A. I kind of was railroaded into it. Former president Butch MacAleese was instrumental in having the complex built, and once it was built he got me on as a board member. Mike Smith took over as president after Butch and two years ago he decided to step down. My wife, Becky, told me if you want it, then go for it. Now I’m in my second year. I really enjoy working with our board members because our philosophies are the same. The kids come first. Everything we aim to accomplish is going to benefit the kids.

Q. How are league operations financed?

A. We raise all of the money for our budget through fund-raisers and donations. This year, my wife, Becky, led our tag day where we put on our uniforms and solicit donations. We bought a 72-inch mower by way of those donations.

Q. How do volunteers participate?

A. We have a lady that takes care of the concession stand and a man that handles the umpires for our games. A few older gentlemen from the community come and mow the fields for us each week. Parents and coaches donate time to get the fields ready to play.

XInterview by Vindicator correspondent Ryan Jones