17

In 2009, I was making my first state tournament appearance with the Putnam City North Panthers. At that time, the state tournament was comprised of two, four team brackets, competing in a double elimination bracket where each winner would play a winner-take-all game on Saturday for the state championship. Our first round draw for the tournament were the Enid Plainsmen and we were able to emerge victorious which would match us up on Thursday with the Owasso Rams. Now for those that may not know, the Rams are very well known for their baseball tradition and were really on a roll. They were currently seeking their third straight state title along with with winning seven state championships over the previous ten seasons. The winner of the game would put themselves in a position to have to be beaten twice on Friday to be eliminated. As good fortune would have it, the Panthers came out on top that day. The Rams would go on to win the elimination game that evening which would set up a rematch the next day and that’s where this story begins.

I remember arriving at Claremore’s field early with the team since there were no games in front of ours that day. It was going to be the Panthers versus the Rams for a shot to play for a title the next day. As our team was settling in and getting ready to begin their pregame preparation, I was making sure I had things ready and as I did this I was looking for Burchy and the boys because I knew they would be arriving soon. As I was walking from the right field foul line toward the dugout, I saw Kaden and Ketch come through the gate onto the field headed toward Dad. At the time, Kaden was eight years old, and Ketch was just three. Kaden was more on a stroll to Dad while Ketch, the energizer bunny, was running as fast as his little legs would take him. When Ketch got to me I bent down a bit and he jumped up into my arms and Kaden soon followed where I stood with Ketch in one arm while my other was around Kaden. It was definitely a great moment but what I did not know at the time was how impactful of a moment it was to someone else that I had no idea was watching.

Shortly after the family encounter it was time to start dialing in for the game. I needed to to exchange line ups with Owasso so I could get my dugout line up card in order. I made my way over toward the third base dugout to greet coach Turner and give him a copy of the line up and before I could reach him Coach Holleman, the long time first base coach for the Rams stopped me and asked if he could share something with me briefly. Of course I said yes and he began to tell me about how arriving at the ballpark that day he was a bit nervous and unsettled. He then told me that while he was pacing around and trying to find some inner peace he looked over to see two young boys running to their dad and jumping in his arms and in that moment he found peace. He said that at that moment he was able to take a deep breath and knew things would be fine but wanted me to know that was a special moment for him. I was very appreciative of coach sharing that story with me and it helped me to find calm that day as well. The day would see the Rams win two games that day and they would win their third straight title the next day.

That moment that Coach Holleman shared that day was the beginning of a friendship that I cherish to this day. After the Rams beat us in the second game to advance to the title game, as I was holding Ketch in my arms, I asked coach Holleman if there was ever a time I could visit with him about some of the aspects of their program because success leaves clues and the Rams were very successful. His response was “absolutely, I’d be glad to sit down and talk to you.” Later that summer I found myself sitting down with coach Holleman in a restaurant in Owasso and leaving with some ideas of my own I would like to try to implement as the new head coach at Edmond North. Of course, as we sat and visited, he would ask about the boys and relived that moment on that Friday afternoon in May just a couple of months ago. I remember leaving that day thinking how cool it was that he took the time to sit down and share thoughts and ideas with a young coach and on a side note he paid for lunch as well.

As time would go on, we started scrimmaging Owasso before the regular season began and as such I was able to see coach Holleman with a little more frequency and every time we played he would always ask about the family and of course how the boys were doing. It wasn’t unusual for him to make mention of that Friday back in May of 2009 which always brought back great memories for the both of us. In the spring of 2011, we went up to Owasso to scrimmage and we were lucky enough to face Dylan Bundy that day who would go on to be the fourth overall pick in the MLB draft that summer. Facing this kind of a talent does not come around very often and so in about the second or third inning I had the wild idea of asking coach Holleman if he could get Dylan to sign a baseball for Kaden. He looked at me and said “are you serious?” with a bit of a chuckle. I laughed and said yes coach, this guy is going to be a first rounder. Coach simply smiled and continued his coaching duties at first base. Several innings went by then I noticed coach was giving me one of those non verbal gestures that I was reading as “come here.” I went to the top of the dugout stairs where he met me and very discreetly pulled a baseball out of his jacket pocket. I could tell by his delivery and mannerisms this was something he did not want very public so I immediately thanked him quietly and put the ball in my bag. On the bus ride home, I pulled the ball out of my bag and on the ball it read “To Kaden, best of luck, Dylan Bundy”

In 2012, as an unlikely qualifier, our Edmond North Huskies found themselves punching their ticket to the state tournament. Where would we be playing the first round, Claremore, who would be our opening opponent, Owasso. (Cue twilight zone music) Yep, here we are again, playing the Rams on a Thursday at four o’clock in Claremore, Oklahoma. I told the team that the last time I played Owasso on a Thursday at four we came away with victory. This was also the first year the state tournament was strictly single elimination so there was no place for a slip up, lose and go home. It was best on best on the bump that day and when the last out was made we were on top 3-1. It was an exciting moment for sure but what happened next had a far reaching impact on me. As soon as the last out was made and the rest of team rushed out of the dugout to celebrate, I immediately headed toward coach Holleman, standing at first base, to extend my hand for a game well played and what he did next was teach me a lesson. As I approached him and began to extend my hand, I noticed a look he had on is face and with his hands in the pockets of his jacket made some sort of gesture that without saying a word I quickly figured out that he was telling me it was ok to go celebrate with the team first. Wow! I have never forgotten that moment and remain very appreciative of the fact that his respect for the opponent and the game remained at the forefront. He wanted me to enjoy that moment with the team.

Two days later, the Huskies would claim their first state title. During that championship game, I later found out that Burchy only saw half the game due to her superstitious nature. She would spend half of each inning pacing in the tunnels of Oral Roberts stadium believing that was the magic for the Huskies that day. Who am I to say she was wrong because we won but I also found out later that while pacing one of the people she was texting updates was coach Holleman. He had reached out to Burchy via facebook messenger and asked her to text him updates which she did. She said that before the game that day he had reached out to wish us luck and to tell Karl to make sure he hugs the boys. He was very congratulatory after our win which was greatly appreciated. Burchy said the morning after the game she found a message from Coach Holleman telling her he woke up worried that in the craziness of the weekend Karl might not have remembered all-state nominations were due that Monday and to make sure and remind him. Again, I was blown away that he had the thought and took the time to reach out about a detail like that but as anyone that has read this far is starting to find out that Coach Holleman was a bit different and in a great way. Usually, every May, Burchy will post the picture of the boys in my arms celebrating the state championship on that Saturday in May of 2012 and coach would usually message her reminding her of how special that picture was as it reminded him of that day back in 2009.

Since moving to Florida in 2016, my interactions with Coach Holleman would only consist of an occasional brief encounter at a national clinic but I always tried to reach out on special occasions such as birthdays, father’s day, Christmas, etc. He would always respond with a greeting and a kind word.

I did not know Coach Holleman like people from Owasso. While my time and interactions with him were for the most part limited to ballparks and clinics,I do know that in the time I did spend with him that he was about as genuine as a person I’d ever met. While he was soft-spoken he had a way of communicating with not so many words that somehow reached you at a deep level. I also know that within that unassuming demeanor was a competitor that was out to win and of course occasionally I would see that side of him that enjoyed a good laugh. He always showed a genuine interest in how me and my family were doing especially those boys. I respected his intention to be discreet and personal as it maintained a true sense of professionalism that he always continued to uphold. I have read many a tribute to him written by members of the Owasso community as well as others that coached/taught with him and were coached/taught by him. In simple words, everyone seems to agree that Coach Holleman was not only a great man but a Godly man. It seems that his superpower was service leadership and he did that to the nth degree in many different arenas. As for me and my family, we will cherish his friendship, his willingness to share, his genuine concern and happiness for our well being, and his willingness to lead by example. Thank you Coach Holleman for all you taught me and for allowing us to share in a small part of your life, you will be greatly missed and I will make sure I hug the boys for you. From one 17 to another, I hope to see you on a heavenly ball field one day my friend.