About coach

Growing up in West Jordan, soccer was my mom's game of choice for me, but baseball held a special place in my heart. Despite my mom's concerns about its safety, I found myself drawn to the diamond, spending hours at the park watching my best friend play for the WJ Pony league. There's just something captivating about one of America's greatest pastimes—baseball.

Whether it's the excitement in the air, the snack bar goodies, or the cheers of the fans, every moment at the ballpark was filled with excitement for me.

Finally, my mom gave me the chance to join in the action, but there was a catch: I had to raise the funds myself. Determined to play, I took on odd jobs around the house, but the bigger payday was cleaning a wood shop for the owner who lived in my neighborhood. I earned my spot on the team. It felt like a journey, but it taught me the value of hard work and determination.

Under the guidance of the legendary Coach Kunz (rest in peace), I experienced victory firsthand. Our team clinched first place that year, and we went on to win the Round Robin tournament—an experience that solidified my love for the game.

One other experience I'll share here occurred at one of the first team practices, also jersey day! I was excited, new, and a bit undereducated in team baseball. As the more experienced kids dug through the bag of jerseys to claim their favorite numbers, I watched as the pile became smaller and smaller. Finally, it was my turn. There were two jerseys left. I remember one teammate watching as I picked up the jersey with the number 8, "8 is for odd-ball," he shouted out. I never forgot that moment, and since that day, I have embraced the number 8.