Varsity baseball coach Joe Stetka threw his hands up in triumph as the dust settled after junior KJ Hockaday slid into home plate.
“I have a passion for the game,” Stetka said. “I love working with kids.” Stetka came to JC after 6 years coaching at C. Milton Wright. Athletic Director Larry Dukes offered the position to Stetka at the end of last year. The previous coach, Brian Farrell, left the team to expand his business.
“Once I met [Coach Stetka], I knew this was the type of person that embodied our mission and was passionate about keeping our boys competitive in the A Conference of the MIAA,” Dukes said.
Stetka started the changes to the baseball season before the official season had even begun. For any interested players, Stetka held fall and winter workouts to get the players in shape and to get to know the players.
He changed a few “little things,” such as new helmets and dressing up the field.
Stetka has experience coaching baseball. He started 17 years ago as a coach for Hickory Fountain Green Baseball. Stetka is still involved with the program in addition to coaching the JC team. Previously he has coached summer teams, a travel team, and the Aberdeen Arsenal for 11 to 12 year olds. In addition to coaching, Stetka is employed in the baseball business as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles. He follows certain high school and college baseball players and reports how they play to the Orioles.
Besides running, batting, and throwing statistics, “I look at how they [potential players] carry themselves and how they respond to pressure,” Stetka said.
Stetka’s coaching method comes from learning from clinics and “the Cal Ripkens” that he meets in his work. He feels that in order to teach, he needs to “further his education.”
On the field, Stetka emphasizes the fundamentals to his players. “Practice is serious,” junior Brendan Butler said. “He obviously wants to win. We work on everything from technique to game situations.”
Baseball techniques are not the only goal on Stetka’s mind. He wants to change the “losing” atmosphere into a “winning” one. To make this happen, “the players need to buy into what we’re doing,” Stetka said. “They’ve accepted me and we’re seeing results.”
For instance, Junior Brendan Butler was featured by “The Baltimore Sun” as Athlete of the Week for the week of April 12. His performance in the games against McDonogh, St. John’s, St. Paul’s, and Calvert Hall contributed to the decision.
“I was very happy when I found out I was Athlete of the Week. I could not have done it without my teammates and coaches,” Butler said.
The game against Calvert Hall on April 9 was not just important for Butler, but for the team and the school. “It is the biggest win in the school’s history,” Stetka said.
The perennial power Cardinals were ranked 11th coming into the game, while JC was only ranked 13th. “It was like David and Goliath,” Stetka said.
Junior KJ Hockaday and senior Mason Keene both hit home runs, junior Nick Naumann and Butler each hit a triple, and juniors David McGee and Trent Shaw hit doubles to pace the offense. Shaw pitched the last 2 innings and the Patriots beat the Cardinals 14-12 in a thriller.
“Coach Stetka, along with Coach Glen Gustafsson had a huge part of me being honored with Athlete of the Week. They not only helped me become a better baseball player but also a better person. I will use what they teach me in life as well,” Butler said.
“I’ve told them [the players] that I’ll always be there and I’ll always have their back,” Stetka said.
Stetka plans to continue winning and make the playoffs. “Coach Stetka is a true baseball man. His interest is always making them better on and off the field,” Dukes said.
“I want [the players] to leave confident that they can play against anyone anywhere,” Stetka said.
Rachel Kokoska can be reached for comment at [email protected].