CHЯISΓIДИ SΞLICH

Jedem das Seine - John 15:5 -

[Millington Athletics @MillingtonCards]

For the first time in school history - your Millington Cardinal regional champs

[MHSBCA @MHSBCA1]

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Baseball Moms out there!

[Nick Brandel @MotorCityBanter]

Oct 14, 1984: Kirk Gibson hits a 3-run blast off Hall of Famer Goose Gossage in the 8th inning, giving Detroit the lead en route to the championship. 🐅🏆

#DNMW #RepDetroit

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

See a parent sitting quietly at a game?

Often, that’s the one who gets it.

No complaining.
No criticizing coaches.
No yelling at refs.
No drama.

Just watching their kid compete.
Youth sports need more parents like those.

Be part of the solution.

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD, I sometimes laugh when I’m accused of caring more about one sport than another. The reality is simple, we want every program to succeed. Every team matters. In today’s world, some sports naturally gain more attention due to participation numbers, community interest, and success. That visibility is not created by favoritism, it is earned over time. Success does not happen because an AD cares more about one sport, it happens because athletes, coaches, and programs commit to doing things the right way day after day.

[Millington Athletics @MillingtonCards]

Cards Sweep Cass City https://t.co/J96y9jTPeQ

[CHЯISΓIДИ SΞLICH @cselich]

@selich_andrew So disgusting

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

College Baseball/Softball:

If your best hitter is batting 3rd or 4th, you're giving away runs.

Every spot down = ~16 fewer PAs per season

The 2-hole sees the most high-leverage PAs of any spot

53% of teams scored more with a #2-best-hitter lineup: +0.3 runs/game from lineup optimization alone

[Jonathan Lucroy @JLucroy20]

When you swing up (intentionally) you are fighting gravity. Barrel goes down then up. Loopy. This is why we (former players and analysts who actually played at a high level) and not you or any other TikTok hitting guys say what we say about the art form that is hitting a baseball.

When your hands start high and on plane with pitch, then work “down” through it with the hands, the barrel planes out and you match the plane of the pitch. (Launch angle)

Now it kinda blows MY mind when someone who has never done it starts chirping saying we don’t know what we are talking about. Hitting is feel, and you can bring all the data you want, which is important to a certain extent, but, the feel of the bat going down through the zone is actually what allows the barrel to match the correct plane (launch angle for the nerds).

Sure you can get away with a swinging up feel when guys are throwing 70. But try it when you facing 95. Good luck.

[Coach Swit @CoachSwit]

Had a college coach text me yesterday:
“Thank you for posting your high school stats.”

Appreciated.

I know high school coaches hide stats—
calling it an “advantage” so opponents don’t know how players are doing.

Is it 1985 or 2026?

Post your stats. Don’t hide.

[CHЯISΓIДИ SΞLICH @cselich]

@nut_history Ernie Harwell

[Benson @Miggysbat]

It’s not even hyperbole or Tiger fans buttering up their favorite players anymore, Dillion Dingler might actually be the best catcher in Major League Baseball.

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD, I often wonder why questions about a specific sport are directed to me before the coach. A strong program is built on trust and structure. The AD sets the culture and expectations, but the coach is responsible for the day to day decisions of the program. That line matters.

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD, I struggle to understand why some parents resist high standards for their kids. Growth doesn’t come from comfort, it comes from being pushed, being coached hard, and being held accountable.

As a dad, I hate seeing my kid disappointed. But I’d rather see him face adversity now than be unprepared later. Learning to handle failure, earn your role, and fight through challenges matters more than any short term result.

Winning matters. Not just on the scoreboard, but in learning how to prepare, compete, and respond when things don’t go your way. That’s what builds someone ready for the real world.

[MHSBCA @MHSBCA1]

MHSBCA 4/13/26
D3 Poll

[Kory Woods, MSW @KoryEWoods]

I have never seen an NBA team win 60 games in a season and constantly get dumped on by national media the way the Pistons are.

This reminds me of 2004 when analysts said the 54-win Pistons had no shot against the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Then the "five-game sweep" happened.

[Jeff Petty @wjeffpetty]

Excuse my ignorance on this. What year did we start letting 9 year olds take leads & steal bases? When we were 12 foot had to be on the base. Stealing at 9 years old & taking leads might be the dumbest thing to date I have seen on a baseball field at any level.

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD, you must balance day to day operations like scheduling, compliance, and communication with long term vision, developing coaches, maintaining a healthy culture, and growing programs. Managing both keeps the present running and builds the future.

[Millington Athletics @MillingtonCards]

Millington Athletics - This Week in Sports - April 6, 2026
https://t.co/ghXP2UYveT

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

As athletic directors, it’s easy to get consumed by schedules, budgets, facilities, transportation logistics, and compliance. Those things matter and they keep programs running. However, at the core of everything we do is one simple priority: people.

Putting student-athletes first means creating an environment where they can grow beyond the scoreboard. It’s about educational accountability, character development, and giving them the tools to succeed long after their playing days are over. Wins and losses will fade, but the habits, discipline, and confidence they build through athletics will stay with them for life.

At the same time, we must put coaches in a position to succeed. Coaches are the front line of our programs; the lifeblood, if you will. They shape the culture daily. Supporting them through professional development, clear communication, and trust allows them to pour fully into their athletes. When coaches feel valued and supported, that impact multiplies across every team in the department.

The best athletic departments aren’t defined by championships alone; they’re defined by alignment. When student-athletes feel supported, coaches feel empowered, and leadership stays grounded in purpose, and success becomes sustainable. Culture becomes intentional, not accidental.

Being an AD isn’t just about managing programs; it’s about leading people. And when we consistently choose people over everything else, the results, on and off the field, take care of themselves.