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Wednesday, May 20, 2015 | BataviasBest.org
As a head coach there is plenty to take pride in when it comes to the team and program that you preside over every day. For Holley’s Jason Cole, though, perhaps the most-prideful element of his job is seeing his players’ enjoyment that comes from playing the game of baseball.
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Jason Cole
Holley Baseball – 15th season as head coach
Favorite thing about High School Sports: “Every year you need to coach to your players ability. (For example) some years you have a short stop that does not pitch and other years he is your best pitcher. You need to coach a lot different each year.”
AB: Coming into the year did you know that your team had a chance to achieve as much as they have (GR League Champs)? If so, what made you believe in their ability to do so?
JC: “We returned all but one player from last year. Our team meeting at the end of the 2014 season had big goals for this year knowing we were all coming back. My four seniors are great leaders by example, and although they all played other sports during the year, we always talked about the upcoming baseball season.”
AB: Is it your belief that your coaching style has contributed to that sense of leadership that your guys have developed?
JC: “I would like to think so. I have been very fortunate to have assistant coaches to help with many aspects of the game. We work well together and that helps the boys see that it takes teamwork and dedication from everybody. We preach every game that it takes more than one swing to win the game. I want my players to work for the team concept and not individual. We win games by using outs to move runners not solo home runs.“
AB: More specifically, how do you feel the core values that you have instilled in your program contribute to your team’s success?
JC: “Having a couple of players who want to play baseball in college offers a great opportunity to motivate hard work in the off season. I take a lot of pride in the fact that the players want to come to practice.”
AB: Do you feel their leadership and overall sense of pride as a group can also be attributed to what comes with being a Holley Hawk? In other words, what is so special about playing/coaching for Holley High School and how does that effect your team’s play on the field? Also, You always seem to have a strong following at your games whether it be home or away. Do you feel your fans’ support is an additional driving force behind your overall success?
JC: “We have some great baseball families in Holley. It is fun to see the fans home and away. It is also nice to see all the past players who come back to see how the team is doing and cheer us on. When the current players see how much other people are paying attention to their game you can’t help but to notice that they want to perform better.”
AB: You guys have been saddled with a tough Sectional bracket. What is your team’s focus now that you are headed to the postseason? What do you believe is most-important in terms of your team’s overall postseason success?
JC: “Sectionals are always hard with the pressure of one bad game and you are done. If we keep hitting 1-9, I know our pitching can keep us in any game.“
AB: Finally, at the end of the Sectional Tournament, where do you see this team winding up?
JC: “This will be a tough team (Bloomfield) to beat with hitters 1-9 and pitching that can keep hitters in check even second time through the lineup. We have had a goal in mind going back to last year and I feel that we have set it up nicely. Now we need to go for it.“
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Holley has had a fantastic season thus far in 2015. With plenty of fan presence which is expected to continue into the postseason, and perhaps even increase in size, and the overall support received from their community, I bet the Hawks find themselves soaring deep into the Tournament.
Other articles you may like:
Coaches Corner: BB/Elba’s Ezzell preparing for Sectionals with plenty of confidence in his group
Coaches Corner: Attica’s Fromwiller reflects on first year as head coach
Coaches Corner: Elba Girls Basketball – Tom Redband
Coaches Corner: Batavia heading into Sectional Finals under Briggs’ tutelage
Coaches Corner: Cintorino’s Lancers off to hot start in 2014
