1 final ‘thank you’
Retiring Coosa head baseball coach Gus Bell is honored after losing to Wesleyan.
Gus Bell has coached enough games to know that sometimes you just can’t get a hit.
That’s how the final game of his coaching career went, but not without recognition of all that he’s done.
Coosa failed to dethrone the defending Class AA state champions Saturday afternoon, losing a decisive Game 3 to Wesleyan 12- 0 in Norcross and ending its season.
After the game, Bell, who came on as head baseball coach for one season to help stabilize the program, was honored with an ovation from both teams and their fans.
“It’s tough to take a loss like that, cause these guys now have to wait seven months to bounce back from it,” Bell said. “But this is a good group of kids. They’ll bounce back, and they have a good group coming up.”
The Eagles (12-11) just could not find the offense Saturday that propelled them in their 6- 5 win in Game 2 on Friday, registering only three hits and failing to get a walk. Wesleyan pitcher Alex Thompson fooled them all game, going all seven innings despite a 30minute rain delay in the seventh inning.
Friday’s doubleheader hinted at a closer game, with the Eagles taking the second game and only losing 3- 1 in the opener. But the Wolves posted eight runs in three innings Saturday to quickly put Coosa in a hole.
The Eagles began the game with Jordan Lyles — who still had an eligible inning left — on the mound, and Wesleyan leadoff hitter Colin Hall responded with a home run to center to start the game. Wesleyan center fielder Cole Mannion made a spectacular play to finish the first with a catch at the warning track.
Then came the third inning, where Wesleyan ( 21- 8) blew the game open with six runs mostly produced off bunts. Three consecutive players reached base on a bunt, and two more hits helped put the Wolves up 8-0 less than halfway through the game.
“Of course it would not have made a difference, but I don’t know if they hit two balls out of the infield to score six runs,” Bell said. “Whatever you could do wrong we did it, and unfortunately I think the kids started to feel a little sorry for themselves. And you can’t do that.”
Coosa pitcher Caleb Shifflett settled down to allow only one run in the next three innings. But Thompson’s pitching and the exceptional fielding behind him never let up, leading to the Wolves’ triumph.
But the biggest moment of the game came after the final out, when Coosa’s seven seniors were recognized for playing their final game. Then Bell was brought to home plate as Wesleyan P. A. announcer Clint Thykeson listed Bell’s many accomplishments, including his 507 wins as a high school baseball coach.
Bell had no idea the ovation and impromptu recognition was coming. Thykeson had gotten word of Bell’s retirement and researched his career to prepare for the moment.
“I had talked about some of my accomplishments, but I have no idea where he got the college information from, so that was a surprise.” Bell said regarding his All-American playing days at Jacksonville University.
Bell was happy to see his career end in Wesleyan, a place he claims to
have valued for having a great baseball atmosphere.
The coach did not have tears in his eyes during the list of his achievements, or even when he shook his players’ hands to mark the season’s end. Coosa finished the season with some of its best games against a region champion.
Bell’s reaction to the end of his career was mostly
content. The final result was not what he wanted, but he’s excited to watch the game as a fan.
“I’m ready, I’m definitely ready,” Bell said. “I hoped we could go another round or two, but that didn’t happen. So now I’ll just enjoy life, think of the experiences we got out of this year, and hopefully the kids can become better ballplayers and better men.”