TERRE HAUTE —
What started out as a short-term proposition for Wayne Newton Post 346 baseball manager John Hayes has turned into a long-term proposition – and he’s loving every minute.
“This is my 28th summer,” Hayes laughed. “I started in 1985. Didn’t have a program here in town then and I decided I wanted something better for the kids. Jim Rendel and I put our heads together and we started a team.
“I was going to get out in ‘88 when my youngest son [Mike] left the program and was going away to school. I couldn’t find anybody that I thought wanted to take it. So I decided to stay with it … and I’m still there.
“I don’t mean to pat myself on the back, but it’s a big commitment. It’s all summer. I haven’t had a summer vacation in 30 years. But that’s my choice. There’s a lot of things I could do in the summer, but I love what I’m doing. I love baseball.”
Post 346 has won six Indiana state championships (1994, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2010) under Hayes’ direction — no manager has won more Indiana state titles. In 2006, Post 346 was runner-up in the American Legion World Series.
Prior to Hayes, Post 346 had won five other state titles, Bill Welch winning three times (1951, 1956, 1957) and George Murphy twice (1969, 1970).
Back to present day, the Post 346 program is flourishing.
So much so, Post 346 will be host team — and participant — in the Great Lakes National Regional at ISU’s Bob Warn Field in 2013 and 2014.
Challenges
The number of teams in Indiana are down significantly, about 70 when Hayes started, less than 40 presently.
“Some [American Legion] posts are struggling with membership, struggling with money to be able to fund a team,” Hayes noted. “The other really big thing is getting people who want to make the commitment to do it.”
The reduction in Legion teams surrounding Terre Haute has made scheduling difficult, especially for non-weekend games.
“During the week we can play Washington, Sullivan, Mattoon or Crawfordsville,” Hayes said. “Vincennes is out this year. Clinton has expressed interest in starting a team next year. Other than that you have to do some considerable driving.”
You might think Indianapolis is a viable option, but think again.
“Years ago, Indianapolis had several teams. But now the high school coaches over there choose to keep their underclassmen together. Most of them don’t want to play as big a schedule as we play. Now there are no teams in the Indianapolis area.”
That has not been the case with Post 346, for a number of reasons.
In addition to Hayes’ commitment, there has been “immeasurable” financial help from Post 346, cooperation from local high school coaches — including the use of two of their fields — the parents, and of course, the players.
Expensive? With seven nights for the team on the road this year — three nights each in Paducah, Ky., and Moline, Ill., plus one in Evansville — the travel expense alone is huge.
Hayes wouldn’t divulge an overall operating budget, but he did state upwards of $6,000 will be spent for lodging, close to $700 for baseballs, plus insurance, uniforms, etc. It’s a lot of money.
“We don’t charge our players anything to play. We foot the bill,” Hayes said. “When we’re on the road, we pay the motel and we feed the boys. Baseball bats, gloves and shoes are on them.
“We need the parents involved. I tell them we need their help selling tickets, working concessions, scoreboard, things like that. I’ve been fortunate that we’ve had good parents … so the kids can concentrate on playing baseball.
“We don’t actually transport [the players], but we don’t let the boys drive to games. One of the ways for the parents to be involved is to take the young men on the road trips.
“I’ve just always felt that it’s not in the boys’ best interest, my best interest, the Post, or the state or the parents, for a group of young men that age to be out in a car. I remember me [at that age],” Hayes laughed.
Players and coaches
“To be honest, I haven’t had any bad kids … had some kids that are different, but you know what, so are our coaches,” Hayes smiled. “I just think the world of the kids.”
His players matriculate from the high school programs at Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, West Vigo and Northview.
“We look at the kids and decide which ones we want based on what we see in the spring,” Hayes said. “I think it’s an honor, at least that’s what the kids tell me, to be asked to play for Post 346.
“We’ve been successful and the success is because of the kids. Kids listen to how we want to do things and it’s been successful. So I guess we’re doing things the right way.”
Hayes admits the only part he dislikes about managing Post 346 is making the final roster decisions.
“Some people don’t understand, but the worst part of the season for me is picking my team,” Hayes said. “We only have room for X number of kids. We usually keep 16. This year we had eight coming back, so we had to pick up eight kids.
“I feel sorry for the kids I know want to play, but we don’t have room for them. I just hate that. I wish I could take every kid that’s interested in playing.”
Hayes has been blessed with plenty of good players through the years, familiar names such as Josh Phegley, Nick Ciolli, Brady Shoemaker, Eric Tryon and A.J. Reed. Hayes added, “Andy Cain pitched at Rose-Hulman too;, now he’s a nuclear submarine commander.
“Kids that have come out of our program have not only had success in baseball, but in other things,” Hayes said. “And that’s not a direct result of our program, but we like to think we’ve had some input in those kids’ lives.”
Hayes has been aided with good coaches through the years too, people like Rendel, Bill Liebler, Bob Doti, Mike Hayes and T.C. Clary. Mike Sturm — “we’ve been friends since childhood” — serves as his assistant coach again this year.
“It’s not a one-man show … I don’t believe in being judge, jury, executioner,” Hayes said. “We talk about things. One guy might have an idea, we’ll put our heads together. It’s a team effort, not only from the kids, but from the coaching staff.”
Junior program
With all the baseball talent in the Vigo and Clay County area, Post 346 has been fortunate to also field a Junior team.
The senior team age limit is 19-and-under and a player cannot turn 20 in the calendar year, while the junior team age limit is 17-and-under and a player cannot turn 18 in the calendar year.
“Some of the boys that are playing [junior] could’ve played for us, but they had another year of junior eligibility left,” Hayes said, “We felt it was in their best interest to play to play [junior] and play all the time. Then next year, several of those boys we’re going to be very interested in.”
The junior program plays a 30-game schedule this year, their home games played at Terre Haute South.
New chapter
One thing has changed for Hayes: no more juggling of time between work and baseball. Hayes retired earlier this year from his long-time position at Forrest Sherer Insurance Co.
“When I worked, if I had an evening game I was always rushed,” Hayes said. “I’d have everything laid out at home before I left in the morning to work. Then I’d run home, change clothes and get to the ballpark and be rushing around. Now I can just take my time, get to the ballpark early.
“Thank goodness [North coach] Shawn Turner has the facility ready for us to play. That means a lot. The folks at South do the same for the junior team.
“These high school coaches are a big part of our program. I’d hate to be in a community that you couldn’t work with the high school coaches. They send us good kids and their facilities are as good as any in the state for a high school facility.”
Hayes also serves as Assistant Tournament Director at the American Legion World Series, and serves on its National Baseball Subcommittee. In the latter role, four years ago he was part of their decision to select Shelby, N.C., as a permanent site for the World Series.
Hayes said the old record prior to Shelby for World Series attendance was 60,000. Last year it was 85,000 and they are shooting for 100,000 this year.
How much longer will he want to manage Post 346?
“It’s still fun,” Hayes said. “I know I’m going to be there this year, hopefully for the next two [years], good Lord willing.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Big fan: Post 346 manager John Hayes shows his approval of his team's play in its game with Sullivan last week.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Listen up: John Hayes delivers instruction and encouragement to his team between innings of its game in Sullivan last week.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis From the bench: Wayne Newton Post 346 manager John Hayes talks with his catcher from the dugout in a win at Sullivan last week.
Discussion
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