The turnout wasn’t exactly what newly-minted ECHS baseball coach Michael Parker had been expecting, but 15 to 20 prospective baseball players came out Tuesday to a meet and greet at Tom Byrne Park.

“Everything went well,” Parker said. “I just introduced myself and went around and talked to the kids and the parents. It was a really informal thing. We just talked about baseball.”

Parker, an Escambia County native wanted told the future players that he planned to be with the school as long as they would keep him.

“I let them know that there would be stability there,” he said. “I told them I plan to retire in Atmore.”

Parker said the schedule for next season is a few small tweaks from being finished and unlike in previous years, he has included county teams like T.R. Miller, Flomaton and W.S. Neal.

The coach said he believes that the stronger competition will lead to better baseball and that the rivalries will lead to better attendance.

“That’s your best chance to make money at the gate and concessions,” Parker said. “Turnout will be better.”

He said he’s looking forward to the new season with “good players coming back and good players coming up.”

The baseball season will start on Feb. 17, 2014 with the Eagle Classic in East Brewton.
“I’m excited and fired up,” Parker said. “I wish they started baseball tomorrow.”