Madison County's Patrick McCrary was named to the All-Conference SSAC basketball team. McCrary's Emmanuel College Lions are playing in the SSAC tournament this weekend in Rome, Georgia but McCrary will be watching from the bench. He suffered a broken arm last week in last week's action.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
'Coach Griff' has influenced many on and off the diamond
Column posted in the Feb. 24 issue of the Madison County Journal. To subscribe to the Journal visit www.mainstreetnews.com
By Dallas Bordon
His “field” of dreams has always kept him busy and he still spends many hours there all through the year.
His “field” of dreams has always kept him busy and he still spends many hours there all through the year.
“I do believe it is
something he really enjoys. He is always so proud to hear from his players
and/or their parents after they have graduated no matter where their paths led
them, he is still very interested.” These are words echoed from Kelli Griffeth,
wife of long time Raider baseball coach Charlie Griffeth.
This month, “Coach Griff” as he’s known by his players and friends enters his 26th season as the Madison County High School baseball coach. During those years he has seen players come and go. He has been one of the most respected coaches around and although he is said to be a man of a few words, he still gets his point across and he still seems to produce a winner.
During the years of Griffeth’s reign many of his Raiders have continued their baseball careers at the college level and one even reached the major leagues. Jake Westbrook now with the St. Louis Cardinals and the winning pitcher of game six of the World Series was just one of Coach Griffeth’s ace men on the mound in the mid 90s.
“He knew we had good talent and he pushed us to be our best,” said Westbrook who originally signed with Georgia before being drafted. “We never had an easy practice, but he did a great job getting us ready to play.”
Raider alum Adam Swann, who continued his baseball career at the University Of Georgia, said Griffeth was and still is a coach that expects a lot from his players only because he puts a lot into his players and the program.
“I’ll never forget when I was a freshman, I was walking across the field to get the tarp off the mound and Griff yelled for me to get the lead out of my butt, In other words, don’t walk across my field; pick up the pace,” said Swann who admitted he liked the bluntness and toughness of Coach Griff.
Westbrook made his debut to the show with the New York Yankees in the late 90s but was originally drafted out of high school by Colorado.
“Griff was good about handling all my calls from professional and college scouts and setting up their visits to the games,” said Westbrook. “He never told me who was coming or when because he didn’t want to add stress before the game.”
Prior to Westbrook and Swann’s successful runs in the 90s, power hitting Andrew Bullock said Griffeth’s knowledge of the game is rare in a high school level coach.
“He ran practice like a Division I team,” said Bullock. “He ran practices in periods and each had been thought out to get the most of each day. Our preparedness was second to none.”
While Westbrook describes Griffeth as a hard nose coach who knows how to get the most out of his players, Bullock and Swann both echoed the same thought.
“He had a knack for getting the best out of us,” said Bullock. “He knew who would excel by being pushed a little harder mentally and who would do better being left alone.”
Swann as a freshman claimed that the coach was much harder on his players but mellowed out during his senior season.
“I think coach getting married to his wife Kelli had a lot to do with him mellowing out,” said Swann.
Charlie Griffeth married his wife Kelli in 1996 following the summer baseball season. They have two boys, Tyler, 13, and Logan, 9, whom Griffeth spends as much time as possible watching their games or teaching them how to hunt.
“He’s a devoted dad,” said the coach’s wife. “He does miss out on a lot of their activities during spring, but he attends whatever he can even if it means he goes straight from his practices and field work to their games even if he hasn’t been home or had dinner.”
As for the man off the field, Griffeth is an easy going person according to his wife.
“He’s pretty much what you see is what you get,” said Mrs. Griffeth. “He really makes no appearances or bones about anything and his temperament is really easy going.”
Griffeth’s wife is appreciative of the fact that he never shows frustration or disappointments after a game around her or their boys.
“He’s just Charlie, the husband and dad here at home,” she said. “He really leaves the game at the field.”
Griffeth shows his dedication not just to baseball or his responsibilities at home but also the Middle School where he serves as principal of House 1300. He is described by his co-workers as being very laid back with the kids and is very good with putting things into perspective.
Born and raised in Athens and a 1977 graduate of Clarke Central, Griffeth played both football and baseball under legendary coach Billy Henderson. His college days consisted of playing baseball for North Greenville, West Georgia, and Columbus College. He also coached at Griffin High School in Columbus for one year and also at Columbus College for five years prior to Madison County.
Whether it’s the Charlie Griffeth who wears the hats of “hard nose coach,” dedicated dad and husband, or laid back co-worker, he has become one of the most respected men to those who know him best.
“Coach Griff got the most out of us and pushed us to be the best we could be,” said Westbrook. “Looking back now I can really appreciate that because it made me a better player and I’m very appreciative. He has a great work ethic.”
“It was an honor and a pleasure to get to play for him,” said Andrew Bullock.
“We had a great group of guys and we enjoyed ourselves. Winning is fun and Coach Griff and coach (Ken) Morgan liked having fun,” Adam Swann.
Dallas Bordon is a regular contributor to The Madison County Journal.
This month, “Coach Griff” as he’s known by his players and friends enters his 26th season as the Madison County High School baseball coach. During those years he has seen players come and go. He has been one of the most respected coaches around and although he is said to be a man of a few words, he still gets his point across and he still seems to produce a winner.
During the years of Griffeth’s reign many of his Raiders have continued their baseball careers at the college level and one even reached the major leagues. Jake Westbrook now with the St. Louis Cardinals and the winning pitcher of game six of the World Series was just one of Coach Griffeth’s ace men on the mound in the mid 90s.
“He knew we had good talent and he pushed us to be our best,” said Westbrook who originally signed with Georgia before being drafted. “We never had an easy practice, but he did a great job getting us ready to play.”
Raider alum Adam Swann, who continued his baseball career at the University Of Georgia, said Griffeth was and still is a coach that expects a lot from his players only because he puts a lot into his players and the program.
“I’ll never forget when I was a freshman, I was walking across the field to get the tarp off the mound and Griff yelled for me to get the lead out of my butt, In other words, don’t walk across my field; pick up the pace,” said Swann who admitted he liked the bluntness and toughness of Coach Griff.
Westbrook made his debut to the show with the New York Yankees in the late 90s but was originally drafted out of high school by Colorado.
“Griff was good about handling all my calls from professional and college scouts and setting up their visits to the games,” said Westbrook. “He never told me who was coming or when because he didn’t want to add stress before the game.”
Prior to Westbrook and Swann’s successful runs in the 90s, power hitting Andrew Bullock said Griffeth’s knowledge of the game is rare in a high school level coach.
“He ran practice like a Division I team,” said Bullock. “He ran practices in periods and each had been thought out to get the most of each day. Our preparedness was second to none.”
While Westbrook describes Griffeth as a hard nose coach who knows how to get the most out of his players, Bullock and Swann both echoed the same thought.
“He had a knack for getting the best out of us,” said Bullock. “He knew who would excel by being pushed a little harder mentally and who would do better being left alone.”
Swann as a freshman claimed that the coach was much harder on his players but mellowed out during his senior season.
“I think coach getting married to his wife Kelli had a lot to do with him mellowing out,” said Swann.
Charlie Griffeth married his wife Kelli in 1996 following the summer baseball season. They have two boys, Tyler, 13, and Logan, 9, whom Griffeth spends as much time as possible watching their games or teaching them how to hunt.
“He’s a devoted dad,” said the coach’s wife. “He does miss out on a lot of their activities during spring, but he attends whatever he can even if it means he goes straight from his practices and field work to their games even if he hasn’t been home or had dinner.”
As for the man off the field, Griffeth is an easy going person according to his wife.
“He’s pretty much what you see is what you get,” said Mrs. Griffeth. “He really makes no appearances or bones about anything and his temperament is really easy going.”
Griffeth’s wife is appreciative of the fact that he never shows frustration or disappointments after a game around her or their boys.
“He’s just Charlie, the husband and dad here at home,” she said. “He really leaves the game at the field.”
Griffeth shows his dedication not just to baseball or his responsibilities at home but also the Middle School where he serves as principal of House 1300. He is described by his co-workers as being very laid back with the kids and is very good with putting things into perspective.
Born and raised in Athens and a 1977 graduate of Clarke Central, Griffeth played both football and baseball under legendary coach Billy Henderson. His college days consisted of playing baseball for North Greenville, West Georgia, and Columbus College. He also coached at Griffin High School in Columbus for one year and also at Columbus College for five years prior to Madison County.
Whether it’s the Charlie Griffeth who wears the hats of “hard nose coach,” dedicated dad and husband, or laid back co-worker, he has become one of the most respected men to those who know him best.
“Coach Griff got the most out of us and pushed us to be the best we could be,” said Westbrook. “Looking back now I can really appreciate that because it made me a better player and I’m very appreciative. He has a great work ethic.”
“It was an honor and a pleasure to get to play for him,” said Andrew Bullock.
“We had a great group of guys and we enjoyed ourselves. Winning is fun and Coach Griff and coach (Ken) Morgan liked having fun,” Adam Swann.
Dallas Bordon is a regular contributor to The Madison County Journal.
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