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| This Coach is a Winner Friday, July 10, 1998 By John Johnston The Cincinnati Enquirer On a sweltering Sunday in June, Joe Hayden paces in front of the home dugout at Amelia's Midland Field.
Wearing a maize jersey embroidered with his No. 1, he peers past the infield through darkened glasses.
He pulls his blue hat off and rubs his bald head, covered with sweat. Then jabs at the dirt with his shoes.
Rests hands on hips. Folds his arms.
The body language says something unusual is happening, and he doesn't like it: His Midland Redskins, a perennial powerhouse nationally among amateur teams in the 18-and-under age group, is losing 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning to A. Green Financial Group, a team from Ypsilanti, Mich.
When a Redskin blows a baserunning play, Mr. Hayden jumps on an assistant coach. "What do you mean he didn't
understand?" he says in a voice not loud, but incredulous. "We're halfway through the season. Go over it again."
At 68, Mr. Hayden is a half-century older than the teen-agers who play for him. But he possesses a young warrior's will to win. Earlier this week the baseball world focused on Denver, which hosted the Major League All-Star Game. For excellence in the amateur ranks, however, look no further than Amelia, home of Mr. Hayden's Midland Redskins, a summer-league team composed of high school seniors and college freshmen. To Continue This Coach is a Winner... Midland's Defense a Success Saturday, August 15, 1998 By Myles Schrag Enquirer contributor FARMINGTON, N.M. -- Tournament MVP Nate Smith threw a four-hitter and struck out 14 batters at the Connie Mack World Series Thursday night, lifting the Midland Redskins past the Dallas Mustangs 9-4 for their second straight CMWS title.
"Nate Smith is contagious," said Midland manager Joe Hayden, whose team has won eight CMWS championships and six in the past
10 years. "They don't think they can lose when he's on the mound. He's a very low-key, modest young man. If you look at him
in street clothes, you'd say, "He's a what?' But he gets in a uniform and he's a tiger."
To Continue Midland's Defense a Success... |
| Last Updated May 14, 2004 |