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Zuni Youth Enrichment Project Engages Over 200 Zuni Youth In Annual Basketball League

Courtesy photo Community coaches meeting. Courtesy photo ZYEP News: ZUNI — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s 2025 Basketball League wrapped up on Friday, May 16, for 203 Zuni youth ages 7-12 who engaged in eight weeks of regular practices and weekly games as well as a midseason tournament, April 15-17. Shepherding them through the experience […]

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ZYEP News:

ZUNI — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s 2025 Basketball League wrapped up on Friday, May 16, for 203 Zuni youth ages 7-12 who engaged in eight weeks of regular practices and weekly games as well as a midseason tournament, April 15-17. Shepherding them through the experience were ZYEP’s physical activity team and 43 community coaches.

Made possible with support from Nike, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the New Mexico Department of Health and the Zuni Public School District, the ZYEP Basketball League is the most popular of the youth project’s sports leagues, which also include soccer, flag football and T-ball. According to Tyler Sice, ZYEP’s physical activity coordinator, this year’s league saw increased interest and significantly higher numbers at registration.

“With the rising numbers for this year, we were able to host 10 full teams in both divisions — Shiwi League for ages 7-9 and Zuni League for ages 10-12,” Sice said. “Interest hasn’t been this high in many years.”

With help from nonprofit organization ND42 Camps and founder Noah Dahlman, the youth project provided a skills camp on the weekend of Mar. 22-23 at Zuni High School. The camp introduced the children to basketball fundamentals prior to their first practice on Monday, March 24.

Practices took place Monday to Thursday each week, with the Shiwi League at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School and the Zuni League at Zuni Middle School. Zuni High School hosted the weekly games on Fridays.

“The practices and games were well received by participants and community members,” Sice reported. “We had a lot of families coming out to support their teams!”

The ZYEP team did run into a challenge when Zuni High School was unable to make its gymnasium available for games on April 11 and 18. So the team pivoted, and with Physical Activity Leader Esther Suitza at the helm, they held a midseason round-robin tournament on April 15-17, keeping the Shiwi League at STE and the Zuni League at ZMS.

“No score was kept, and spirits were high,” Sice said. “The participants couldn’t wait to play their next games. It was crazy and amazing, with 15 games each night played across two courts.”

At the STE gym, ZYEP Basketball League coaches refereed the games. At the ZMS gym, the youth project arranged to have local referees help officiate the games for the older children.

“On the first day, the 10 teams were moving fast with 10-minute games and 2-minute transition time,” Suitza said. “The youth were excited and ready to play, but some also were a little nervous. They commented, ‘Tournaments are serious to the real ballers, and I’m scared to play against them.’ We encouraged them to do their best, gain experience, and most of all, have fun!”

Additional ZYEP staffers were on hand throughout the tournament to provide support, including Food Sovereignty Leader Zachary James, Food Sovereignty Coordinator Brittny Seowtewa and interns Malcom Kaskalla and Lorenzo Chavez. The Food Sovereignty team also provided snacks for players and spectators.

After the tournament, the league resumed regular practices and games for the remaining four weeks of the program. Looking back, Sice said the season was a resounding success despite any challenges the league might have faced along the way.

“In the youth surveys, 92 percent of the kids said they had fun during basketball season, and 87 percent said this year’s season helped them feel more confident,” he reported. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the spaces provided and the many coaches, players and families wanting to be part of it!”

Families agreed that the season was a success, with 100 percent indicating that their children’s participation improved their self-confidence. They also shared their own highlights from the experience.

“It sure was an awesome season,” one parent reported on their survey. “Thank you to the coaches for teaching our children respect toward one another as well as coaching basketball. My daughter had a great season. She’s gained more confidence and courage to play basketball.”

“Our whole family loved ZYEP basketball — a huge thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it possible,” said one survey respondent, while another remarked, “ZYEP is a blessing to our community. It gives our children a chance to learn new activities, gain experience and meet new people.”

For their part, the community coaches also indicated that the basketball season was a positive one, with one coach calling it “the most rewarding experience of my life,” and another expressing joy in seeing “the children learn, develop new skills and show so much respect to each other.”

“This season helped me connect with my youth, which was really fun,” another coach said. “I loved building new relationships with the kids and their families, as well as the other coaches. This helped me get out of my comfort zone. It was a great experience.”

“This season was very heartwarming to me,” another stated. “The kids made every day joyful.”

Through its Youth Sport initiative, ZYEP connects with more than 500 youth annually. In addition to basketball, young people also are able to take advantage of seasonal leagues in T-ball, soccer and flag football. More importantly, they have access to mentorship through ZYEP’s staff and coaches, camaraderie with teammates throughout the leagues, and powerful community spirit.

Now that basketball season has concluded, the ZYEP team is shifting gears to prepare for Wellness Week on June 23-26; Summer Camp, which kicks off June 30; and the annual T-Ball League, which will take place in July.

To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call 505.782.8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.

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Tracy Tritons Swim Club | Tracy Press

One local organization with a big reason to celebrate this year is the Tracy Tritons Swim Club. This is the 60th year for the local youth sports organization, which started as Tracy Swim Club in 1965 and grew into one of the most competitive teams in the Mid Valley Swim League. For most of the […]

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One local organization with a big reason to celebrate this year is the Tracy Tritons Swim Club.

This is the 60th year for the local youth sports organization, which started as Tracy Swim Club in 1965 and grew into one of the most competitive teams in the Mid Valley Swim League.

For most of the club’s history the name and face most associated with the Tritons was Pinkie Phillips, who started coaching swimmers with Tracy Swim Club in 1967 and saw the club grow and become more competitive until she retired in 2010. Phillips died in 2011 at the age of 78.

“In her basement, it was like a shrine for the Tritons,” said Brandon Kanner, president of the Tracy Tritons. “There was a ton of just memorabilia from old trophies, gifts she had been given over the years, just everything.”

He said that most of that memorabilia likely went to her family and close friends, so much of the 60th anniversary season has been devoted to calling up as much history as Kanner and the Tritons coaches and board of directors can find.

The longtime coach’s legacy, however, is easy to see in today’s team. Kanner said that one of most valuable things Phillips did as a mentor was bringing the swimmers she taught back in their teen years to be trained as coaches. Kanner himself started as a competitive swimmer in the 6-and-under division in 1992, and then came back as a coach.

“This was my first job as a kid, and it taught me a lot of valuable lessons. It’s one of the hallmarks of our program is that we have a head coach and adult coaches, but we have this group of young adults that have been with the program for years and have grown up through the program and become role models for the kids,” he said.

“The young kids look up to them and really get to understand what it is to be not only a good swimmer or a good person also and a good hard worker. It teaches a teaches them a lot of values, and you see changes in kids when they’re about 12, 13, that want to be a part of that program and a part of that history. The lightbulb turns on and they start changing the way they act.”

Today the head coach is Jennifer Silva, and Denise Haliczer is the assistant coach, who has also been a board member for several years.

Changes on the team over the years just show that the Pinkie Phillips era was a different time for youth sports.

“One of the great things about the Tritons for decades is that we never had to worry about a coach. It freed up the volunteer board to focus on other areas. Not only that, but until the mid-90s, we never had to worry about a pool or the costs of a pool,” he said, adding that Tracy High School’s pool was also the Triton’s home pool for practices and meets.

“We had a set of keys — I had a set of keys when I was a junior coach for the Tritons — Pinkie would tell the athletic director at the time of Tracy High when we were going to use the pool,” he said. “Now it’s completely different, for a variety of reasons. It needs to be more structured for liability reasons.”

The biggest challenge now for the team is having reliable schedules based on the availability of pools. The Tritons are among those in town who look forward to seeing a new aquatic center in Tracy.

“It’s tough in in this town. There’s just not enough pool space,” he said. In mid-May the swimmers had to do dry land workouts because a pump for Joe Wilson Pool in Dr. Powers Park, where they meet daily, was down. He noted that Tracy Unified School District rents out its pools but availability of the high school pools is subject to school district schedules.

The Tritons work out regularly at Joe Wilson Pool, and their home meets are at the Pinkie Phillips Aquatics Center at West High. Practices are nearly every day, which Kanner said is one of the strong points of the program.

“It does teach commitment and dedication, beyond teamwork and those types of things. To be successful in a sport like swimming, you have to really be dedicated to the craft,” Kanner said. “Kids that stick with it and do well really do learn the value of hard work.”

 Contact Bob Brownne at brownne@tracypress.com, or call (209) 830-4227.



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Youth sharpen their skills at Gladiators Soccer Camp | Sports

Local soccer coaches Alex Ornelas and Francisco “Paco” Andrade hosted the Gladiators Summer Soccer Camp over three days at Carpinteria’s Viola Fields. Youth from ages six to 13 put their skills to the test with three day-long sessions, with coaches Ornelas and Andrade running drills and training the future soccer stars in the region. The […]

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Local soccer coaches Alex Ornelas and Francisco “Paco” Andrade hosted the Gladiators Summer Soccer Camp over three days at Carpinteria’s Viola Fields. Youth from ages six to 13 put their skills to the test with three day-long sessions, with coaches Ornelas and Andrade running drills and training the future soccer stars in the region.

The Gladiators Soccer Camp also hosts winter camp sessions. Reach out to coach Ornelas for more info: alexornelas60@gmail.com.

 



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Early on, it was evident Emma Herremans makes a huge impact for Ravenna’s softball program

This story was originally published in LSJ’s June magazine. To see the PDF version, click here. By Nate ThompsonLocalSportsJournal.com Dave Sherman had a strong inkling that Emma Herremans was going to be a special player even when she was just scratching the surface of her potential in middle school. “I’m not going to lie, usually […]

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This story was originally published in LSJ’s June magazine. To see the PDF version, click here.

By Nate Thompson
LocalSportsJournal.com

Dave Sherman had a strong inkling that Emma Herremans was going to be a special player even when she was just scratching the surface of her potential in middle school.

“I’m not going to lie, usually I don’t spend a lot of time watching or scouting kids in youth sports,” Sherman said. “But with Emma, I remember seeing her as a seventh-grader and hitting some shots at Conklin Park that hit the roof at the ice skating park. So yeah, even back then, you had an idea she had a chance to be special.”

Maybe her hitting skills were developed even years earlier when she hacked away as a kid at the training toy Better Batter Baseball with her dad, Scott Herremans.

Hey, it’s never too early to develop crucial hand-eye coordination.  

Now more than a decade later, Herremans, the daughter of Scott and Marie Herremans, is in the closing stretch of a brilliant four-year career at Ravenna High School, one in which saw her hit at least .570 all four seasons. Amazingly, opposing pitchers have only been able to strike her out 15 times in four seasons.

Herremans takes a cut during the Division 3 state semifinals. Photo/Tim Reilly

More importantly to Herremans, she’s been a part of four-straight district championships and some incredible postseason runs. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the regional finals in 2022, reached the state semifinals in 2023, advanced to the quarterfinals a year ago. and made it back to Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium on June 14 in this year’s Division 3 semifinals. The Bulldogs had to stomach another difficutl loss in the semifinals, this time a 2-1 heartbreaker to Clare.

While Herremans and her team had dreamed of a state title, the four years of achievements gave a little more a perspective to the adversity along the way. Herremans had to overcome a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee that cost her a good chunk of her junior season and required surgery and grueling rehab before she could return to the field.

Having the game taken away from her for several months has been the fuel to Herreman’s quest of leading the Bulldogs on another deep tournament run. But the Ravenna community has been key in carrying this team along the way too.

“With all the challenges and adversity this team has gone through, with injuries and changing positions, we’ve had so much community support these last four years, it is just so special.”

Herremans makes a throw from third base during the Division state semifinals. Photo/Jason Goorman

Ravenna took its first step in the postseason on May 29 and 31, when it got past Newaygo, 8-4, and steamrolled Kent City, 10-0, to win the district championship.

The challengers at Saturday’s regional tournament were met with more success with impressive victories over Central Montcalm and Grandville Calvin Christian. That gave the Bulldogs another regional title.

“This (district title) is the most special because it’s my last one with this team,” Herremans said. “It’s been amazing to be a part of four district championships. But this group has worked really hard in the off-season, both individually and we’d get groups of four together to do workouts.”

Herremans said before the season started, every player on the squad listed both a team and personal goal on a note card.

“Every single one said ‘Make it back to Secchia,’ Herremans recalled. “We made it to the quarterfinals last year and we all know what this team is made of and where we want to be.”

The Bulldogs were one win shy of Secchia a year ago, as they lost to Buchanan, 3-1, in the quarterfinals with Herremans stuck in the dugout. She suffered her torn ACL during the GMAA city tournament weeks prior.

Facing Reeths-Puffer ace pitcher Lainey McDaniel, Herremans pulled a ball that landed just foul in the outfield. While racing to first and keeping an eye on if the ball had landed fair or foul, Herremans accidentally locked legs with the Rockets’ first baseball, causing her knee to twist awkwardly.

“I felt a pop,” Herremans said. “And when I tried to get back up, my leg just gave out on me.”  

In her true unselfish manner, Herremans said she was torn that Ravenna dedicated the rest of the season in her honor. Her teammates brought balloons to her house following her surgery on May 30, 2024.

“It was really sweet, but I also didn’t want them to think it was just about me, because it’s the whole team,” she said. “But I realized I had to step up and become more of a cheerleader. I still was at every practice and tried to help out the girls any way I could.”

Her next challenge was rehabbing the knee with physical therapist Nate Rosel at The Center for Physical Rehabilitation in Belmont. The initial two months involved mobility and strength exercises, as well as a practice called stem cell therapy, which involved injecting concentrated stem cells into the injured ligament. This process helps reduce inflammation, promotes tissue repair and blood vessel formation and overall, speeds up the recovery process.

Sure enough, after nine months of work, which included going to the rehab center twice weekly during the final stages, Herremans was cleared to get back onto the softball field a month early. She still relies on injury prevention stretches and wears a knee brace during action.

Herremans admitted that early on, the thought of re-injuring her knee crossed her mind, especially when rounding the bases, but any hesitation surely hasn’t slowed her down on the field.

Sherman admits that she rarely sees multiple good pitches to hit during her at-bats, and that might be why she’s hitting a career-low .573 batting average this spring.

“There was a doubleheader earlier this year when I walked five times,” Herremans said with a laugh. “At some point, I think I’m being too selective, and I shouldn’t be as picky. But I know I should stay patient and wait for my pitch to hit.”

But Herremans is still on pace to come close to her career-best of 73 runs batted in, which she tallied as a sophomore.  Through the regular season this year, she had 53 RBIs, scored 44 runs and hit a career-best nine home runs.

Photo/Tim Reilly

“I’d label her as the best hitter in the area, not just power hitter,” Sherman said. “She was hitting .717 when she got injured last year.”

Added Bulldogs’ assistant coach and statistician Penny Sherman: “Not only that, but she’s just a great kid. She’s taken on a huge leadership role. She’s more likely to lead by example, but she’s also a positive role model. She shows the younger kids the right way to do things, but in a respective way.”

Aside from her hitting prowess, Sherman said Herremans is also outstanding with the glove. With her range and tremendous throwing arm at third base, Sherman said she eliminates the opposing team’s ability to play small ball, as she can simply mow down any hitters’ bunt or slap attempts. Combine that with Ravenna’s two outstanding pitchers in senior Addison Gillard and sophomore Natalie Rosel, and the Bulldogs are keen at keeping opposing bats silent.

Emma also was a vital part of the Bulldog bowling team that captured a state championship this past season.  

When faced with the decision on which school she wanted to continue her softball career at the next level, Herremans said it was an easy choice. She’ll be joining Gillard at Ferris State University, and the duo will also rekindle with former teammate, Ravenna grad Emma Gillard, a sophomore middle infielder for Ferris.

“Ferris always felt like home to me,” Herremans said. “I was way more comfortable with the coaching staff and all of the players than any other school. Plus, it’s closer to home, so my friends and family can watch me play more often.”

Ferris State has a local feel on its coaching staff as well, as Jake Schumann and his wife Sharon, are the head coach and associate head coaches. The duo coached at Oakridge in 2020 and 2021 before longtime coach Joe Colletta returned in 2022.

That reunion in Big Rapids will cap a vision started by both the Herreman and Gillard families.

“When we were younger, this group of girls all started playing together,” Emma Herremans explained. “My dad and Coach (Mike) Gillard all got us into travel ball and I think that’s a big reason why we’ve been so successful now.”

Herremans always took it a step further, playing on regional-based teams with players often a year older than she was, such as the Rockford Crush and West Michigan Sabercats.  She also traveled to tournaments nationwide with the squad OC Batbusters Michigan.

And the success shouldn’t slow down in Ravenna with Emma Herremans and Addison Gillard departing, although Sherman said they’ll be very difficult to replace.  

Ravenna’s roster had nearly double-digit freshmen or sophomores, including Herreman’s younger sister Reese, a first-team all-conference selection.

“She’s better than me than when I was a sophomore,” Emma said.



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Indiana basketball gets commit from 4-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody

To build long-term stability, IU coach Darian DeVries wants to ‘simplify’ the process Indiana basketball coach Darian DeFries describes how he see building long-term stability. BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball landed its first commitment for its 2026 recruiting class on Friday night. New IU coach Darian DeVries landed a verbal pledge from 2026 four-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody […]

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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball landed its first commitment for its 2026 recruiting class on Friday night.

New IU coach Darian DeVries landed a verbal pledge from 2026 four-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody on June 27, a rising senior out of Bishop McNamara who was recently on campus for an official visit.

“I’m blessed to continue this journey with the cream and crimson—I’m a Hoosier!” he posted on Instagram.

According to 247 Sports composite rankings, the 6-foot-4, 180-pounder is the No. 170 ranked player in the 2026 class and No. 5 ranked recruit in Maryland. The Terps were one of his nine scholarship offers alongside the likes of Illinois, Michigan State and Virginia Tech.

Indiana’s new coach Darian DeVries turned his attention to next year’s signing class in recent weeks after signing 12 players (10 transfers and two freshman) to build out his 2025-26 roster. The staff has hosted a series of camps and been out on the road recruiting.

Moody had a built in relationship with the staff having played for IU assistant coach Kenny Johnson on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit for Team Takeover.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.





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Coaching a labor of love for youth baseball coach Bob Holland | News, Sports, Jobs

Courtesy photo Bob Holland with his grandson, Carter, has been coaching youth baseball for 50 years. Bob Holland Jr. was just a couple years out of Altoona Area High School back in 1977, when his father, Bob Holland Sr., due to a change in shifts at his job, asked his son if he wanted to […]

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Bob Holland with his grandson, Carter, has been coaching youth baseball for 50 years.

Bob Holland Jr. was just a couple years out of Altoona Area High School back in 1977, when his father, Bob Holland Sr., due to a change in shifts at his job, asked his son if he wanted to take over as the manager of the former Patriots team in the East End Little League.

Holland Jr., who had helped his father coach the team for the previous couple of seasons, agreed, and the late Bob Cummings, who at that time was the league president, put the young first-year manager on a one-year probation period.

Holland Jr. passed with flying colors, and this summer, he is celebrating his milestone 50th season as either a youth baseball manager or coach in this area. He is currently in his 40th season in the East End League, coaching his grandson Carter, age 8, on the Barton’s Plumbing team in the East End’s Minor League (for players ages 6-9) that is currently in the playoffs and bidding for its third consecutive league title.

Holland, who will celebrate his 68th birthday this fall, is actually pulling double duty this summer, also serving on the coaching staff for the Caporuscio’s Plumbing team in the East End’s Major League (for players ages 9-12). His grandson is a batboy for the Caporuscio’s team.

Despite his retirement from the paid workforce in 2023, Holland Jr. isn’t finding himself with too much time on his hands this summer.

“I’ve been pretty busy,” Holland said.

And it’s been a labor of love for Holland, who has also put in another decade as a manager in the Altoona Area Baseball Association, where his Drayer Physical Therapy-sponsored team went 33-0 and won its league championship in 2009, as well as the title in the Dean Patterson Little World Series that year.

“I still love doing it,” Holland Jr. said about teaching the game of baseball to youngsters. “I have sometimes thought that it might be time to get out, but then some 9-year-old kid who I see has a lot of potential as a ballplayer always comes along and I talk myself into staying to coach him until he turns 12.

“I believe that Little League baseball is a great institution,” said Holland, who estimates that he has coached or managed in at least 1,000 youth baseball games over the past half-century. “I was the former president and vice president of the East End League, and I was also on the league’s board of directors. But coaching and managing teams is what I love to do and what I want to do.”

Holland admits that youth baseball has endured plenty of transitions over the past half-century, though.

“It’s harder now,” Holland said. “Little League has changed. Of course, you have the aluminum bats now instead of the old wooden bats, and now you have travel ball, where you might have a kid missing one of the league games because of a travel ball game. I really don’t like that. I think that if you’re going to commit to a (youth baseball league) team, then (you’ve got) to commit to that team.”

Along with the fundamentals of the game, Holland tries to impart those valuable life lessons such as commitment, dedication and punctuality to his young charges.

“I try to teach them the fundamentals like the correct way to hit, throw and catch, but probably the biggest thing that I teach them is not to quit,” Holland said. “I tell them to show up for practices and to show up on time because when you become an adult and you have a job, you’ve got to show up on time and give 100 percent.”

Holland said that it is important to recognize the personality differences as well as the differences in athletic proficiency among the players.

“Obviously, in some cases, Jimmy might be better athletically than Joey, but you also have to get to know the different personalities of the kids,” Holland said. “Even though I push my players pretty good and I try to make them the best players that they can be, you can’t automatically treat one kid like you treat another kid, because their mindsets can be completely different.”

Over the years, Holland has earned the respect and admiration of probably thousands of current and former players, coaches and officials in area youth baseball circles.

“Bob is a tremendous guy, he’s been great for the Little League baseball community here,” said Jason McGinnis, who is in his sixth season as the president of the East End League. “He deeply cares about children and their well-being, and he’s been part of Little League baseball here for 50 years, and that’s a testament to what he brings to the table, as well as to his passion for the game, and to his passion for helping kids to learn the game.”

East End vice president Josh Klausman has known and admired Holland for three and a half decades. Klausman played in the East End League in the mid-1990s, on a Dean Patterson-sponsored team that was managed by Klausman’s father, Jim. The Dean Patterson squads and the Miller’s Corner teams then that were managed by Holland were the best in the league at that time and enjoyed a great rivalry.

“I believe that Bob Holland is one of the pillars of Little League Baseball in this area,” Josh Klausman said. “He’s put in countless hours for the kids, and some of them who are now in their 30s, 40s and 50s are still reaching out to him and coming to see him. If I don’t know anything else about a person, that says enough. He is just a genuinely good human being.”

But like any human being who has spent nearly seven decades on this planet, Holland has sustained his share of battle scars.

He underwent surgery for prostate cancer this past January and said that he feels OK now.

“I had prostate cancer, and I had my prostate removed this past January,” Holland said. “Luckily, (the doctors) caught it early and luckily they got it all, and I’ve healed up pretty good. So far, so good.”

A deeper, much more painful wound for Holland and his wife, Linda, was the passing of their son, Bobby III, at the age of 39 back in 2020.

Holland Jr. coached both of his sons, Bobby III and Chris, in youth baseball competition, and Holland Jr. has also coached both of his grandsons, Carter and recent Altoona Area High School graduate Keldon, 18.

Bobby Holland III regularly pitched batting practice at the games for his dad, and his death has left a void for his family that will always remain.

“When my son died, it took something out of me,” Holland Jr. said. “I’m not the same person that I was before my son passed away — something in me just died with him, and it’s hard for me to explain.

“Bobby threw batting practice for me, and to be honest, it’s tough for me even to this day to go down to the field. When he passed away, it was so tough for my wife and me. It was something that I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

Coaching his grandson Carter now is a way for Holland — who has coached or managed a team to at least one championship in both the East End and Altoona Area leagues — to preserve his beloved late son’s legacy.

“I don’t know if I’d have stayed in coaching 50 years were it not for my youngest grandson,” Holland said. “And whether I’ll be back next year, I don’t know. I probably will be, but I’m not going to give anybody a 100 percent guarantee.

“I’ve coached a lot of kids. I’ve met a lot of great people and made a lot of friends through coaching, and I’ve also had a lot of great coaches to work with through the years. Coaching is my way of giving back to my community.”



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Nagel announces candidacy for Hartselle school board

Hartselle, Municipal election news, News Richie Nagel has announced his candidacy for the Place Two seat on the Hartselle City Schools Board of Education. Nagel graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering. He completed […]

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Nagel announces candidacy for Hartselle school board


Hartselle, Municipal election news, News

By Tracey Tylman





Richie Nagel has announced his candidacy for the Place Two seat on the Hartselle City Schools Board of Education.

Nagel graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering. He completed a master’s degree in systems engineering in 2014. He currently works for UAH as a research scientist.

“But day-to-day I work as an assistance engineer supporting [the Army’s] new future vertical lift aircraft,” Nagel said. He has been contracted to the U.S. Army for nearly 15 years.

Nagel is a Hartselle native. He and his wife, Abby, moved back to Hartselle from Auburn after the birth of their first child.

“Hartselle City Schools is the heart of this community,” Nagel said. “Hartselle has a rich tradition of excellence across the board. I want to make sure that we continue that tradition of excellence. I want my kids and my kids’ kids to have the same opportunity I did.”

Nagel has volunteered with several local organizations including Cub Scouts, Trail Life and College Street Players. He has coached youth sports teams and supported the PTO alongside his wife.

“Me and my wife have talked about me joining the school board for a few years,” he said. “I’m just at the place now that I feel able, I’ve got the time and energy to be able to commit to the community and to run and hopefully be a proactive member for the school board… I want to represent and be the voice for the community.”

Nagel and his wife have been married for 18 years. They have three children, two of whom have graduated from Hartselle High School.

Nagel is one of four candidates seeking the Place Two seat on the school board. He is facing incumbent James L. Joy, John Griffith and Chris Warnick.










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