Fisher Catholic baseball adopts Stewart into the family
LANCASTER, Ohio — The sound of baseball is as reminiscent of spring and new beginnings as the melody of songbirds in the air. As the Fisher Catholic Fighting Irish baseball team takes the field this spring, they place their new hopes and new beginnings in coach Jared Stewart.
Stewart was named the head coach at Fisher Catholic before last season, but the team never had an opportunity to take the field. The 1994 Meigs High School graduate brings 19 years of coaching experience to the staff which he was otherwise able to leave untouched. He did not come here to rebuild the Irish baseball culture; he came here to add to the already rich history and tradition the program has already established.
At the center of that tradition is three seniors who understand the Fisher Catholic culture and have played baseball together since they were six years old.
Having already settled their decision on where they will play after high school Aiden Harris (Saint Xavier University), Nick Krooner (Marymount University), and Mitchell Santino (University of Rio Grande) can focus on winning, something the trio has done the majority of their lives playing together. This team may go as far as these three decide to take them, but they are not alone.
Fisher Catholic Baseball is full of dedicated players who are passionate about the game and are focused on getting better. “We have been working in the weight room since the beginning of November, and many of them have never missed. Their hard work and dedication are going to pay off,” says Stewart.
Stewart goes on to say, “We fully expect to have a good team on the field, [but] we have an even better group of young men off the field. We have some of the most genuine, respectful young men I have ever met.”
Although Harris, Krooner, and Santino are the strength in the middle for this team and its pulse, the heartbeat may come from the stands.
“I am excited about the dedication and support provided by the parents,” explains Stewart. Having the sometimes ungrateful tasks of manning concession stands, fundraising, and working on the field on their own time may not be at the forefront on gameday, but Stewart feels it is essential for all the on-the-field success his team hopes to have.
A lot of the success Stewart wants to build is off of the field. He wants to instill a true family culture for the Irish baseball squad by incorporating teambuilding activities, having family dinners, movie nights, and maybe even paintball. But beyond being their coach Stewart wants to be someone his players can go to for anything.
“In terms of daily practices and routines, I make sure that I don’t just talk to my players about baseball. I talk to them about life. Everything from how their school is going, to conversations about our favorite NFL and MLB teams, and asking about how their families are. I want my players to know one-hundred percent that I care about them and have their backs. I am a firm believer that if your players know you love them, they will go all out for you on the field,” says Stewart.
Developing family values is something that Stewart understands and it starts with his own. He and his wife Stefani, a nurse at Lancaster High School, have been married for 17 years. Together they have three children Gavin (13), Brooklyn (11), and Scarlet (6) which are all active in sports and gymnastics in the Lancaster area.
When Stewart isn’t coaching at Fisher Catholic, with his family, or helping with the children’s ministry at Tree Church in Lancaster, Ohio, he spends his time coaching travel baseball for the Mid-Ohio Raptors. An organization he co-founded. This year he will be the coach for the 14 and under team.
Travel baseball is not only important for the youth and the community but is credited for the improvement in fundamentals that the Irish hope to see on the field this season, according to Stewart.
“I think in baseball the fundamentals have gotten so much better over the last handful of years and I think this can be attributed to the rise in competitive baseball at younger ages and the quality coaching they receive. I have seen more and more coaches with extensive backgrounds coaching our youth baseball players and even offering private lessons.”
Fisher Catholic may be one of the favorites to win the Cardinal Division of the Mid-State League (MSL) this season, but for Stewart, there is more to look forward to than just one season of high school baseball. It is about building relationships, mentoring, giving back to the community, and learning to support one another. Building memories with teammates is important. Striving for greatness and living up to one’s potential, coming together as a team, and winning championships are all invaluable lessons. But none may be as important as building relationships that last a lifetime, and for Stewart that will be the true measure of his impact on this team and the young men on it.
“It is a privilege for me to be able to coach them and I cannot wait to follow their successes beyond playing baseball for Fisher Catholic.”
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