Baseball has been America’s favorite pastime since the 1860’s. While mostly favored by the younger generations today, many adults still love this game, including Shadow Ridge’s newest coach for the beloved sport.
Williams McCall, otherwise known as Coach McCall, used to be one of the coaches for softball but decided to switch to baseball this year and is excited about all the new opportunities the sport has to offer him.
“I love everything about baseball. The lessons it teaches, the friends I have made, the experiences. I owe so much to this game,” McCall said. “It is also something that everyone in my family enjoys, so it has always been something we can all enjoy together.”
When deciding to switch from softball to baseball, it wasn’t easy.
“It was a hard decision to make for me at first. I enjoyed being part of the softball program and getting to work with those coaches and players every day. I am so grateful for my time there. When I start something, it is often really hard for me to step away, and I felt we had unfinished business this year,” McCall stated. “In the end, my decision to become the baseball coach was being able to create a program that not only has success on the field but off the field as well. I want to establish a culture where everyone takes so much pride in being a Mustang, and that the program impacts all who are part of it in a positive way.”
A varsity senior, Benjamin Moss, is inspired by McCall and loves being part of the team.
“My favorite parts of baseball are being able to win as a team with all the hard work we put in,” Moss said. “I love being a pitcher but I miss being a hitter because it was a lot of fun to hit the ball.”
McCall has always been inspired by the late Tony Gwynn from the Padres, and although he doesn’t like the Dodgers, he admires one of their coaches, Dino Ebel.
“I love the San Diego Padres. Growing up, I have always looked up to Tony Gwynn. Just listening to him talk about baseball and the way he approached everything he did was second to none. Even though I dislike the Dodgers, Dino Ebel, their 3rd base coach, is someone else I look up to,” McCall said. “Ebel is from the same Barstow small town that I am from and to see how much success he has accomplished from the hard work he has put in is inspiring. He has truly taught me to be the best I can be.”
McCall has inspired many to be the best they can be on both the softball and baseball fields and outside of the game. He tries his best to make everyone feel welcome and to encourage people that it really isn’t all that scary to want to be part of something bigger.
“You only have four years of high school sports. Years down the road you’ll have that regret in the back of your mind that you should’ve done this or that,” McCall stated. “Not just in sports, but in many things throughout the course of your life. What is the worst that can happen? You don’t make the team? Then at least you can say that you tried something new and went for it.”
With baseball, McCall feels at peace. This is what he has always wanted to do and everyday he is inspiring the young minds to be themselves as well.
