 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Q&A with Jon Chappell
By: Hope Hayes
160 high school baseball players, seven states, and one country. These numbers could only stand for one thing: the 2008 Sunbelt Classic. The Sunbelt is comprised of the best baseball players from Oklahoma, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, and Canada. To date, 129 collegiant All-Americans and 136 major leaguers have participated in this experience.
Guthrie’s head coach, Jon Chappell, has been awarded a coaching position for the 32nd Annual Sunbelt Classic and team Oklahoma (seniors) next week in Norman. Games will be played at Norman and Norman North high schools along with the University of Oklahoma's L. Dale Mitchell Park starting, on Tuesday, June 17th and ending Saturday.
Chappell along with other coaches and players will help conduct a free youth clinic Tuesday morning (9am - 11am) at Reeves Park in Norman.
The senior and junior ball clubs are preparing for the upcoming games by playing each other here in Guthrie at Squires Field this weekend.
Chappell stopped by for some Q&A for Guthrie Sports Page following the games on Saturday.
GSP: How long have you been coaching?
Chappell: 18 years
GSP: What does coaching in the Sunbelt mean to you?
Chappell: It is a very neat honor, getting to coach with (Murl) Bowen is a neat deal.
GSP: Guthrie hosted the Sunbelt Classic in 1993 and 1994. What’s it like having it back here again?
Chappell: It’s a neat deal. It’s nicer with the renovations to Squires and the bond issue. Mr. Simpson has done a lot.
GSP: Is there any difference between the Sunbelt 10 years ago compared to now?
Chappell: No. The caliber athletics is just as good as it used to be. Getting to coach these kids is an honor.
GSP: What’s it like being surrounded by the other coaches on the team?
Chappell: It’s neat. The most important thing is listening to them and pick up new things.
GSP: What are you looking forward to this upcoming week in Norman?
Chappell: Seeing some great baseball!
Guthrie Sports Page stumped Chappell on this last question. Which Guthrie players have participated in the Sunbelt? After some hard thinking, here is what Coach came up with:
’78: Phil Stevenson
’84: Darrell Knight
’85: Mike Tiderman
’93: Greg Ireton
’94: Brian Mosley
’05: Josh Chappell
Those names were the names off the top of Coach Chappell’s head, and he apologizes if he left anybody out!
Hope Hayes is a contributing staff writer for Guthrie Sports Page.
Share your thoughts on this story by going to the Guthrie Sports Page message board. It's free to join and talk Guthrie athletics. Click Here!