Blockberger resigns as Indians' baseball coach (01/15/04)

FORT RECOVERY — With two first-year coaches already patrolling the sidelines during the winter season, the Fort Recovery athletics program will add another new face this spring.

A new coach will take to the dugout for the Indians this year after baseball coach Dave Blockberger resigned recently. His resignation was officially accepted at Tuesday’s Fort Recovery School Board meeting.

Blockberger said his decision came down to time constraints with his family.

He and his wife, Chris, are expecting their second child in early April. The spring is also the busiest time for Chris, who runs Christina’s Dance Escape in St. Marys.

The practice period for baseball begins March 8. Games start three weeks later.

“Baseball has nothing to do with it,” said Blockberger, who informed the school’s administration of his decision during the Christmas break. “It’s the season that has to do with it.”

Blockberger, a physical education and health teacher in Fort Recovery Schools, said he still plans to be an assistant football coach and the eighth grade boys basketball coach. He said both of those sports occur at less hectic times of year for his family.

His son Wyatt, 9, has served as a bat boy, ball boy and all-around assistant for his dad’s teams.

“I was saddened when he decided to resign,” said Sautbine, who said she thought 2004 might be Blockberger’s last year because of the aforementioned time constraints. “Dave did a great job at Fort Recovery.”

Sautbine said a committee is in the process of interviewing three finalists for the job. She said the plan is to hire a new baseball coach at a special Fort Recovery School Board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Blockberger finished his three-year stint as the leader of the Indians with just about a .500 record at 35-36. He was also the junior varsity coach for one season.

The Indians finished 11-14 in 2003.

Blockberger’s best season was his first, in 2001, in which the Tribe set a school record with 18 wins.

That team also won the sectional title when then-senior Brad Bretz hit a one-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Minster. The homer gave Fort Recovery a 5-4 victory, and the squad finished the year as district runners-up with an 18-6 record.

Blockberger said that moment and season were the highlights tenure.

“That would be the bright spot of coaching,” he said of setting the school record for wins and winning a sectional championship in the same game.

“Basically I just had great kids. They were fun to be around. They worked hard. For the most part we were competitive and always in games.”[[In-content Ad]]