It’s been a season to remember for Kenmore West head coach baseball John Haynes. The Blue Devils captured the Niagara Frontier League title and entered the post-season as the No.1 seed in the Section VI Class A1 playoffs.
Along the way, Haynes picked up his 100th career win when the Blue Devils topped Lockport to claim the league title outright.
For Haynes the best part about the 2019 season has been sharing this journey with an incredible group of young men. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Haynes said during Monday’s practice. “We’ve accomplished some goals. We still have some other goals to accomplish. It’s been, I don’t know, a dream season I guess. A lot of good kids. Good families. We’ve played a lot of good baseball. We’ve learned a lot. We’ve been through a lot of adversity. They’ve grown since the season started. They’ve had each other’s back. A lot of team work.”
While Haynes holds each team close to his heart for different reasons there is no question this group will forever hold a special place in his heart.
Last year’s team was certainly talented, but they just could never seem to find that cohesiveness that’s makes the difference between a family and a group of guys that happen to be on the same team. Haynes felt that this year it all started with numbers.
In the past Haynes, would keep a roster of 18-19 athletes. A former Blue Devil himself, (Class of 1987) Haynes wanted as many players as possible to enjoy the varsity experience. And to focus their time and effort on something constructive.
While large numbers, in theory, means more depth, the reverse is that it’s tough for every kid to get playing time. When Haynes kept those larger rosters he always spelled it out clearly to certain kids that they might not get a lot of playing time. Kids agreed, but not all were able to deal with limited action.
Haynes was as kind and diplomatic as possible as he said the kids who were in those situations over the last eight or nine years were good kids, but at times, some of them forgot what they agreed to. Which led to a ripple effect of unhappy parents questioning their son’s lack of playing time.
This season, Haynes kept just twelve boys on the opening day roster. More than just twelve kids, it was the right twelve kids. This is an unselfish group that wants success more for the guy next to them then they do for themselves.
“I have a great group of kids this year. Very unselfish,” Haynes said. “They bought into the team concept. They know their roles. They’ve all worked together and they all get along very well. So that has a lot to do with it.”
Senior Jack Reilly said Haynes has the unquestioned respect of the team. Not because he is a stern disciplinarian, but because he returns the respect in kind. Make no mistake, John Haynes holds his players to a high standard of conduct. But he doesn’t run a ‘my way or the highway’ program. Haynes wants the kids to take ownership of the team. So its not uncommon for Haynes to ask his players for their input.
“Extreme level of respect for Haynes,” Reilly said. “He’s one of the only coaches any of us have ever had where he will listen to us. And listen to our input and really take it into consideration. We’re all a team. We all help make the decisions. He makes us feel like we’re all on the same level as him and that just helps us to respect him.” The boys know Haynes cares about them as people first, players second. Which is why everyone of them would walk through fire for Haynes.
A solid ball player during his high school days, Haynes was the Blue Devils starting center fielder and co-captain during his senior year. Haynes fully admits he wasn’t an All-WNYer. He was a dependable guy who had to work hard to make the team at a time when enrollment was higher and it was harder to make the cut.
That effort it took for Haynes to make the varsity squad helped forge a pride and passion for Blue Devil baseball that shines through in his coaching style.
“I think so,” Haynes said. “I was a center fielder, a captain. I wasn’t a superstar. I was a role player, but I played. I think they can relate to that. Hard work pays off and that’s one of my biggest qualities that I try to preach when I coach. Whether it baseball, basketball, or football. You don’t have to be the best kid, but if you put in the time and the work it’ll definitely pay out in the end for you.”
Kenmore West modified coach Tony Ballistrea (Class of 2012) said there is an honesty about Haynes as a person and a coach that made him want to come back and work on Haynes’ staff.
“One is consistency. Day in and day out he’s the same man working hard every day,” Ballistrea said. “He’s not gonna come to practice and work ten percent one day. It’s 150 every day. Another thing is just the time that he puts on and how he delegates responsibility. He just does his job. He does what a big league manager would do.”
The Blue Devils will try to defend their home turf when they take on Williamsville South in the Class A1 semis. It will be a rematch of last year’s semifinal that saw the Billies win in extra innings.
Haynes said he felt last year’s loss was a teachable moment that made them a better team this year. Now it’s time to hopefully even the score with South.
“We lost a bad one against them in the semis. I think we’re a better team, a much more mature team. We learned a lot from that last year,” Haynes said. “Its shown this year.”
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