RICHMOND, Ind. — A pair of
Earlham College graduates met on the baseball field this week as former teammates faced each other for the first times as coaches.
Jason Stringfield (’00) and Josh Amyx (’04) were teammates on Earlham’s baseball team in 2000. Both are currently the head coach at their high school alma maters.
The duo renewed their friendship at McBride Stadium as Amyx’s
Richmond High School squad played Stringfield’s
Wayne High School team from
Huber Heights, Ohio, on April 13.
“He called me in January and said we are a game short and would you be interested in hosting us in a doubleheader,” Amyx said. “Things didn’t work out for the doubleheader, but I thought it would be a fun time to play against him.”
In the end,
Wayne used a late rally to post a 10-2 victory. “It was great to see two ex-players face-off in leadership positions at McBride where they played their college careers,” Earlham Director of Athletics Frank Carr said. “It was really fun to watch.”
Stringfield was excited prior to the start of the contest. “It’s the first time I’ve been here in some time,” he said. “It’s special to come back. I like Josh, but once the game starts he will want to win as bad as I do. You hear athletes on TV say this game doesn’t have any extra meaning, but it does.”
Amyx echoed that sentiment. “Before the game starts, we’ll be friends, but then it’s time to get after it,” he said. “He’s the opponent and we’re going to try to beat them.”
But there is still the memory of being teammates. “String was a senior when I was a first-year,” Amyx said “It’s always good in a program like Earlham’s to have good positive leaders and role models as a young player.”
“When I had an off game he would be the one to come in and pat me on the back and say it was alright,” Amyx added. “He was a quiet leader and it was fun playing with him.”
Both agreed that the Earlham experience helped in their pursuit of a teaching and coaching positions.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Stringfield, who teaches social studies at
Wayne. “(Earlham has) a great and caring faculty and staff. It was a great time in my life.”
Stringfield was pleased to have his current position. “I was fortunate it worked out this way,” he said. “I always knew I wanted to coach and to be able to do it at my old high school is an added bonus.”
Amyx became
Richmond’s coach two years ago when John Cate left to take charge of the Earlham baseball program. “I’ve been really blessed to play for and coach with some great coaches,” Amyx said. “I couldn’t be where I am without John Cate’s influence.”
Earlham’s impact has also helped Amyx. “Earlham prepared me in a lot of ways,” said Amyx, who teaches English at RHS. “The professors at Earlham taught me a lot about life and a lot about how to reach young kids as a teacher. I always wanted to be around the game of baseball and now it’s shifted a bit. I really enjoy being in the classroom.”
Check out some information on the Web sites from
Richmond High School and
Wayne High School.