Legion sets new coaching staff, player registration

Legion sets new coaching staff, player registration

ROCK SPRINGS – Archie Hay Post 24 American Legion Baseball is proud to announce the new coaching staff for the 2015 season. Trevor Arnold is the new head coach and his assistant coach will be Lorenzo Webb.

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Arnold said. “We have a good core of players who are committed to winning. With that core group of guys and adding to it, there’s not much that can stop us. It will then blossom to better things. It’s not an individual game, it’s a team game and we’re going to have our guys out there fighting together to win.”

Arnold is a native of Oregon having played high school baseball in Eugene. He then attended and played baseball at Lane Community College in Oregon and then transferred to Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota where on scholarship he began as a player and ended as a coach. Arnold was instrumental in turning around the baseball program in Mitchell, S.D., where he was the coach for the VFW Teener Program beginning in 2005. He held various positions within the program including schedule coordinator, Mitchell Schools Junior High Head Coach and Director of Operations.

Advertisement - Story continues below...

When asked what makes him stand out as a coach, Arnold said, “I wasn’t the most gifted athlete and wasn’t noticed by colleges. Because I wasn’t on their radar, I had to work harder to get a spot on the team. I came from nothing to something.

“I’ve coached in all realms of baseball and competed in all levels so I’ve had the opportunity to see what it takes to succeed. I know from experience what it takes to make it,” he added.

Arnold said his first steps will be to get players on the same page by outlining his expectations for players, but more importantly asking the players what their expectations are for him. One main goal he has is for all senior players to have the opportunity to further their education and play baseball at the next level if they chose to do so. Arnold says he has the contacts in junior colleges and Division II colleges, but still has friends who play or are coaching all over the country who know other coaches. He said all it takes is a couple of phone calls to make those connections for players. “It’s a domino effect,” Arnold said. “They see one coach doing well and kids are doing well, they’re going to take a look at it.”

Arnold said players on his team will learn respect for the game and understand it better than they have before. He will focus on developing players for the next level and keep the team growing and getting more confident.

Webb, a native of Rock Springs, played Archie Hay Post 24 Legion Baseball from 2006-2011. He was named All-State in his final year of legion baseball. Webb attended Miles Community College in Montana for three years. Webb was a member of the Pioneers baseball team and was red-shirted his freshman year. While there, the Pioneers won two conference championships and one Region IX title.

“We have an assistant coach who knows what it’s like to lose and what it’s like to win,” Arnold said. “And we want to keep winning going.”

Arnold wants to recruit additional players as it allows for more and better competition for spots. “It brings out the best in players,” he said. “There’s more out there who can play and they need to step up and take a shot. I encourage them to do so.”

Arnold has a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and a Master’s degree in Education Policy and Administration. Arnold came to Rock Springs after his spouse took a job with Sweetwater County School District No. 1.

Archie Hay Post 24 will have team registration on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 7-8 p.m. at the old American Legion building on Broadway. Players must be age 13 by Jan. 1, 2014, in order to play during the 2014 season. Player registration fee is $75. Anyone wanting to serve on the Legion Baseball Board is also encouraged to attend at this time.

Post 24 begins play in May with the first home games May 12-13 as the team hosts the Archie Hay Post 24 Invite.