For this weekend's Times-Journal. Enjoy.
I wish Coach Rolston the best. Always great to talk to win, lose or draw.
Rolston resigns as Jackson baseball coach
3-year skipper set to join former JHS boss
By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor
Looking out at Haller Field from the home dugout, Lance Rolston reflected on the past three years.
Both “bittersweet†and "opportunity†were words which quickly came to mind.
That’s because Rolston — after three seasons skippering the Jackson High School baseball team — has resigned his teaching and coaching positions, as he is leaving the district to follow a similar path of another former Ironmen boss.
Rolston resigns to join former Jackson baseball coach Steve Little at Olentangy, as he will assist Little and be closer to his alma mater of Ohio State.
Rolston said in an interview with the The Jackson County Times-Journal on Wednesday that “ultimately, I want to coach college baseball.â€
He is a former co-captain at Ohio State, was part of two teams which captured Big Ten championships, and has maintained multiple relationships with while making more connections to the university.
“This move at this time is a great opportunity for me,†said Rolston. “It allows me to be closer to and around Ohio State, and my ultimate goal is to coach at the college level. I still have many contacts at OSU, I’ve been a Buckeye, I am a Buckeye and coaching on the OSU staff would be a dream job.â€
In the meantime, Rolston will become Little’s top assistant at Olentangy, and work primarily with the outfielders and on hitting.
Olentangy is a Division I school, and has experienced much success under Little’s leadership, including the 2006 Division I state runner-up.
In fact, Jackson traveled to Olentangy this past season for a non-league doubleheader on April 24.
“A job came open on Coach Little’s staff, he (Coach Little) told me about it and we discussed it,†said Rolston. “I don’t look at this as a sideways move or as a step down. That’s for sure. It’s a good stepping stone. Olentangy is a Division I school and Coach Little has built a good baseball program there. This is a good opportunity for me. These chances don’t come along very often.â€
In the same sentence, though, he said it’s “bittersweet†to leave Jackson.
“I truly got my start in coaching here. I consider here where it all began,†said Rolston. “I feel we’ve improved the program, both baseball-wise between the lines and our facilities. Our numbers in the program have increased from 21 junior varsity and varsity to around 35 or 36. There is a great baseball atmosphere here with the music, announcing and fan support at games. I’ve had good, dedicated assistant coaches, and players that bought into what we were teaching them. We’ve had a lot of support from parents to businesses to the community. That makes it tough to leave. I was proud of what we were accomplishing and continuing to accomplish. I feel I’m leaving the program in better shape than when I took it over.â€
After one season as the coach at Nelsonville-York, and one spring assisting his alma mater of Alexander where he starred, Rolston returned — after a one-year hiatus — to take over the Ironmen.
He inherited a team that finished last in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League, and was Jackson’s third coach in as many seasons.
But, he needed just one campaign to take the Ironmen from worst to first in the SEOAL.
The Red and White went 16-4 in 2008, and captured the fifth league championship in school history when it rallied for an amazing 9-7 victory at Zanesville in theSEOAL Day of Champions championship tilt.
Jackson trailed Zanesville, which was 21-1 at the time, 7-0 after the first two innings.
But the Ironmen staged an unbelievable comeback, erased the deficit, and stunned the Blue Devils to win their first baseball league title since a co-championship under Little in 1997.
The other three titles, all outright, came in 1976, 1982 and 1996.
In fact, that title two years ago has been Jackson’s only league championship — in any sport — since the SEOAL expanded to 10 schools starting in the 2006-07 academic year.
“Obviously, that was a very special season. And that win, to bring a league title back to Jackson, has been the greatest win in my coaching career,†said Rolston. “Our guys believed in what we were teaching and preaching. All year long, we battled back in games, we believed we could win games, and we were just as talented as any team out there. That game was a microcosm. Zanesville was one of the top teams in the state, it was a big day and a long trip. We got down 7-0, but we just kept fighting, kept believing. We just started making the plays, we didn’t press the panic button, we climbed back into it, we got things to turn our way. I’ll never forget that game or that season. I was very proud.â€
Rolston recorded a 35-29 overall record at Jackson, and went a perfect 3-for-3 in SEOAL DOC games.
Despite only one tournament triumph, this past season against Chillicothe, his Ironmen usually entered the postseason playing better than they did in the opening weeks.
This past year, they pushed top-seeded Warren to a dozen innings in the Division II sectional semifinals, losing to the Warriors 5-4 in a marathonheartbreaker.
“Our kids worked hard and were dedicated to becoming better baseball players,†he said. “That says a lot about them. They bought into what we taught them and always did their best at executing. I want to thank all of our players for their hard work and effort. I’ve enjoyed coaching them. You win with players, and they are responsible for building this program up.â€
Rolston also played a role in improving the Haller Field facilities, which feature a re-done grass infield, new sod, a new home dugout with both dugouts re-painted red, sponsorship signs around the Haller Field fence, the signature “Red Monster†fence in left field, a 42x37-foot indoor hitting barn beyond the left-field fence, and the new giant scoreboard which was erected this past April.
“A lot of business owners came together, and with the support of the school administration, it’s like we have a brand new facility,†he said. “We have a new grass infield, new sod, we renovated the mound and home plate, this home dugout we’re sitting in is new with a storage area and coach’s office. We have two full-length cages in the hitting barn. The scoreboard is big, is bright, is great. We’ve done a lot of things in 30 months to make this one of the top fields, one of the top baseball complexes around.â€
Rolston thanked the Jackson City Schools administration, several area businesses and individuals, his assistant coaches, his players, their parents, and the community at-large for its support.
“It’s been a great haul and I’ve been blessed to have had this opportunity. What we’ve done in three years is very special,†he said. “I wish everyone here well and I hope everyone keeps supporting the Ironmen baseball program.â€
Jackson High School Athletic Director Bob Kight confirmed Rolston’s coaching and Special Education teaching position was officially posted on Monday afternoon.
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