By TIM GUERCIO

The Natchez Democrat

FERRIDAY — Delta Charter High School baseball coach Mitch Ashmore said he coaches the varsity baseball team because he cares about young people and about teaching young men to be professionals.

Ashmore should know a little about being professional, because he has been to the minor leagues of professional baseball and knows what it takes to get there.

Ashmore was drafted by the Kanas City Royals in 1981 where he played until 1988.

After leaving the minor leagues, Ashmore moved to coach baseball at Huntington Academy in Ferriday in 1988, leading that team to six state championship final games, and winning one in 1994.

In 2010, he moved on to be the head baseball coach at Trinity Episcopal High School, where he coached the team to a state championship in 2011.

“My job is to make them the best players they can be,” Ashmore said of coaching. “I want the opposing coach to come up to me and say, ‘Your kids played with a lot of class.’”

To achieve that, Ashmore said he works to instill discipline in his players.

“I believe kids want structure,” Ashmore said. “I think they want discipline, and I know they want to win.”

Delta Charter happens to be in one of the toughest Districts in 1A and the team has to contend with Oak Grove, Onah Charter and St. Frederick.

“With only 13 players on the team there will be an expected contribution from every player on the ball club,” Ashmore said. “We have two seniors, Trey Poole at catcher and Freddie Mango in centerfield. We are depending on them to help in the leadership role.”

The baseball team has another coach, Mason Ozborn, whom Ashmore said has been instrumental in helping him with the players.

“He is the one that is at the school full time,” Ashmore said. “It is always important to know who you are coaching and also to know the parents and school faculty.” Ashmore said he knows schoolwork comes first.

“Education is stressed every day,” Ashmore said. “We talk about the classroom every day.”

As far as the coaching part of the game of baseball goes, Ashmore said he has his theories which are no doubt rooted for well over 100 years in Major League baseball.

“We are trying to make them uncomfortable, so that they can become comfortable in the game setting. So every day that we practice I want them in uncomfortable situations. I don’t coach them during a game, all I can do is manage the game.”