Cougars promote Bowser

Lake Catholic found its replacement for varsity baseball coach Dennis Woods. The search didn’t require Sam Colacarro to look far.

Brad Bowser, Woods’ lead assistant and pitching coach the past two seasons, was hired as Lake Catholic’s new baseball coach June 25, Colacarro confirmed to The News-Herald June 26.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach,” Bowser said. “Being entrenched in the Lake Catholic program for the last (nine) years seemed like the right step, knowing the kids and being able to continue to build the program coach Woods had built.”

Bowser, 31, is from Hartville and graduated from Marlington High School before he attended Heidelberg. He is an English teacher and is scheduled to begin the 2018-19 school year as a longterm substitute teaching eighthgrade English at Willoughby Middle School.

Bowser spent the last nine years on Woods’ staff, beginning as a junior varsity assistant. After two years, Bowser became the head junior varsity coach.

His experience within Lake Catholic afforded Bowser understanding of the program’s inner-workings, from scheduling and transportation to the impact of interactions between coaches and student-athletes.

Bowser assumes responsibility as the Cougars’ head coach in the wake of Woods’ resignation in May. Woods stepped down after his 19th year at Lake Catholic and 50th year of coaching, overall, at the team’s banquet May 23.

Woods’ resignation followed a 13-12 season that culminated in a Division I Euclid District semifinal loss to Mayfield. Woods concluded the season with 730 career victories, seventh-most in state history.

Bowser says his vision for the Cougars is to continue to compete and improve on what Woods built. He learned a great deal from

the past nine years but Bowser plans to run the program in his own style.

“We’re not going to coach the same way,” Bowser said, “we’re not going to focus, maybe, on the same things all the time. So, the program will be different but it’ll still have that same Lake Catholic flavor.”

The Cougars return a number of starters, led by pitcher/center fielder Sam Melnyk, shortstop Ryan Boruszkowski, third baseman Logan McNutt and catcher Seth Rich. Most of Lake Catholic’s starting experience returns in the field and Bowser will seek new contributors on the mound behind Melnyk.

Whoever wears the Cougars’ uniform, Bowser already knows his message — his players’ best will be enough.

“That’s ultimately what you want to instill in the kids,” Bowser said. “If you go out and give your best effort every time, you’re going to find ways to be successful.”

Bowser