McCormick baseball takes on successes, challenges in first season back

Sure, it’s been challenging. That’s expected when you’re leading a program that didn’t have a baseball team for three seasons. But he’s growing the game in a community where baseball isn’t exactly the biggest sport around.

A lot of the kids he leads as head coach of the McCormick baseball team haven’t played the sport before this spring. That’s one of many things that makes this new gig fun.

“It’s a new experience. I’ve never been a coach, so it’s good to get on this side of the baseball,” Colvin said. “I was always growing up playing baseball my whole life, so getting to help other kids enjoy the game that I love has been a real blast.”

A former baseball player at Fox Creek, Colvin, alongside assistant Kevin Jones, has been guiding his team through the basics. Some of that includes fielding, baserunning and, of course, hitting.

The Chiefs haven’t had much success in their first season back on the diamond, but according to Colvin, they’ve been getting better every day.

“That’s what I’ve been telling them from the start, it’s what we’re striving for,” Colvin said. “It’s a new program. Be a part of something special. Just get better every single day, and they have.”

Despite the team’s inexperience, there are a number of Chiefs who have played baseball.

Kyle Morgan, a junior, has been playing baseball since rec ball, one of the only levels of the sport available in the community before this spring.

Now, he’s getting to represent his school.

“It’s fun. I’m glad they brought it back,” Morgan said. “Glad we get to be the first team to bring it back. I just hope it works out.”

Emonie Norman has played a bit of baseball, too. The McCormick seventh-grader said baseball is his best sport and he hopes he can eventually play in college to help pay for his education.

“There’s some challenges to it but you know we’ve got to keep going, keep grinding,” Norman said. “We’ve got to make sure that teammates stick together, and we’ve got to just do what we do.”

With the season waning, the Chiefs’ biggest goal is keeping McCormick baseball alive.

“That’s what I’m striving for,” Colvin said. “These kids ain’t had baseball in years. I just want to keep it around for a while, progress in the field will come from just being out here, and like I said, getting better every day.”