A last dance, denied
Northwestern football recruit Joe DeHaan will ‘always be grateful’ for the chance to play baseball for his dad at Andrew despite senior season being canceled
Dave DeHaan played baseball at Andrew. For the last 10 seasons, he has been the head baseball coach for the Thunderbolts. He's experienced many wonderful moments.
Conference championships. Playoff success. DeHaan has done it all, but this season was going to be the highlight — and it had nothing to do with wins and losses.
He was going to coach his son, a senior catcher, for the final time.
“It's something Joe and I talked about,” DeHaan said. “We have a lot of great memories.”
At that moment, the conversation went quiet.
The reality of being denied more memories — practices and games with Joe, those car rides home — overcame Dave DeHaan. More fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
“It hit me,” he said, fighting back tears. “It's so sad, no doubt. To see (former Andrew coach) Frank (Ganser) and his son Brian have that time together, especially Brian's senior season. There's something to be said of that.
“In 15 or 20 years, I'm sure
Joe and I will still talk about the memories.”
And, for sure, there are great memories. One of the best came when Andrew won the regional title during Joe's sophomore season.
“To share that moment with my dad was unreal,” Joe said. “I've never seen him jump so high in my life after we won the regional.”
Or when the Thunderbolts beat Lincoln-Way Central last season to win the conference championship.
“Coming home and eating dinner together, we talked about that game,” Joe said. “It was just so much fun to share that with my dad.”
For Joe, this wasn't just the final season playing for his dad. It's his final season of playing baseball.
He's headed to Northwestern to play football as a preferred walk-on.
“One last ride with my dad as coach and one last ride of me playing baseball,” he said. “It was something we both looked forward to.”
A perfect final chapter for father and son, coach and player.
The coronavirus pandemic, however, has thrown the world a devastating curveball. Storybook endings are not immune to its heartbreak.
“You have people every day, doctors and nurses going into hospitals, risking their lives,” Dave said.
“Families losing loved ones. That the reality.”
It sure is.
Of course, Dave feels badly for every player on his team. Most of all the 18 seniors, with 12 moving on to play in college.
“Each one of those seniors is resilient,” Dave said.
That includes Joe, who called playing for his dad a “dream come true.”
Trying to live up to the legacy of a father such as Dave DeHaan, however, could have been a nightmare.
Dave was an accomplished two-sport athlete at Andrew.
A star on the baseball field and basketball court, he was tough, physical, relentless and talented.
That can be intimidating to follow.
“When I was growing up, I was always asked if I was ready to play for my dad at Andrew,” Joe said. “Everyone had these crazy expectations.
“My dad never put pressure on any of us to live up to his legacy. He stressed to play the game the right way, don't pout and have sportsmanship. To compete to the best of our ability.”
The hope now is to possibly squeeze in a game or two. Or, at the very least, play a scrimmage that would allow the seniors to be honored.
That would give Dave a chance to thank every senior and their families and allow him and Joe to share a final embrace in their Andrew uniforms.
A fitting end to an unfortunate final chapter.
“That would mean the world to me,” Joe said. “Growing up, I could have never imagined this experience with my father being as amazing as it's been. I'll always be grateful.”