Elder Baseball has an extremely rich history. It’s coaches, players, and all members of Elder baseball have a story. Elder baseball’s rich history shows throughout their players and all of their accomplishments. Some of their player/coaches have reached out and said what Elder baseball means to them, why they came back to coach, and what their careers were like at Elder.

Sam Poli

Sam Poli is coach of the Freshman baseball team at Elder. This is what he had to say about his time at Elder and why he came back to coach.

“I spent all four years of high school within the Elder Baseball program; three as a player one as a team manager. I always knew I wanted to come coach after I was done playing. I had such a great experience with athletics at Elder and a huge reason for that stems from the coaches. I spent some time at LaSalle and St. Xavier on their baseball coaching staffs and jumped at the opportunity to return to Elder. This upcoming spring will be my fourth year on Elder’s coaching staff.”

Talking to coach Poli, it seems he has a massive amount of passion for this school and baseball program. He loves doing what he does for this school, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Now here is a little on what Elder Baseball means to him. “Elder baseball is and always will be home to me. Now, I’ve been in a position to coach with a group of extraordinary men who not only taught me how to play the game, but how to navigate life. Everyone outside of Elder always tells me that there is truly something different about the way we do things. That standard of excellence shows not just in our play on the field, but the way we carry ourselves as God-fearing men.”

Coach Brown

Coach Brown has been here for many years; loved by many. He is a lot of people’s favorite coach and probably will be for the rest of their lives. Coach Brown has made an impact on many kids lives and will have an impact on them forever. This is what coach Brown had t0 say about my questions to him.

“I basically grew up around Elder Baseball. I think I was seven years old when my dad started coaching at Elder. He had the freshmen with Mr. Ruffing at the time, and my oldest brother was starting high school. I think by Aaron’s junior year my dad was coaching varsity. That’s the year they won state, 1999. That whole state run is such a vivid memory for me. I can recall so much about it even though I was 10! 

From there, I would go to practices with them. Keep the book or operate the scoreboard. I basically grew up in the dugout. In 2005, my other brother Jake won state with what is probably the best Elder baseball team of all time. They only lost one game that year. I was a sophomore for that, which was cool since I was a part of the program. My dad was still coaching. Unfortunately, we fell short my two years on varsity: regional runners-up as a junior, lost in the final four my senior year.

I went on to play at Thomas More but gave it up after two seasons. I then immediately started coaching because baseball had been such an important part of my life. I couldn’t give it up! I started with junior high at Walnut Hills, moved on to the JV squad for two years, and finally coached the varsity team for two years before there was an opening at Elder. My brother had been coaching with me at Walnut but moved over to Elder a year or two before me. When Coach Espelage became the AD, I took over as the JV coach and got to be in the dugout with my brother again for a few years. It was an awesome experience.

Unfortunately, many current students don’t appreciate the reality of this, but to me Elder baseball is grittiness. It’s not a joke, it’s a reality. We might not have guys who are all over Twitter or PBR (Prep Baseball report). Rarely do we get anyone throwing 90+. Our best players might not even play at the next level, but every single year, nobody wants to face us come tournament time because they know that they are in for an absolute dogfight.

We work impossibly hard to get all the little things right, and every coach will make sure that you know, if you put on that purple, you are responsible for carrying on the legacy of the best program in the history of the state; you are part of that legacy of fighters. That’s the challenge to all players in the program. I think that is an Elder attitude in general, but I think the baseball program carries it with them best.”

Coach Thamann

Coach Thamann is a coach for Elder baseball who coaches a good amount on each level of play. Coach Thamann was a player here and now is back a few years after graduating high school. After interviewing him I learned he has so much compassion for this school and sport. Here is what he had to say.

“I have always wanted to coach baseball at a higher level and getting a teaching position here helped him get that role of a baseball coach at Elder. Elder baseball has the best history and tradition in country, with 12 State Championships; and it’s going to stay that way forever. My dad and brother played Elder baseball under coach Thomspon, just like me. It’s a very historic tradition in my family to play Elder baseball, and with my passion and love for the game and school, it was just right for me to come back and continue my journey here.”