Ty Smallwood
TRENTON — Ty Smallwood spent his first season of Edgewood High School baseball with the freshman team. Now he’s moving up to the varsity.
But not as a player. The 23-year-old Hamilton graduate is the Cougars’ new varsity coach. He was approved by the district board of education at their meeting Monday night, July 27.
“I’m very excited,” Smallwood said on Tuesday. “I was surprised that Coach (Brian) Caudill left, but I applied hoping for the best, and it came out great.”
Caudill resigned from the position citing family reasons in June after five seasons as the Cougars’ head coach and 10 years overall with the program.
“Ty clearly communicated his goals and plans for our baseball program,” Edgewood Athletic Director Steve Channell said. “He has a strong background and a great deal of passion and commitment. The committee felt very comfortable with him. He’ll have to grow into the job, but he has the ability to do that.
“Brian elevated our program while he was here, and his time was well appreciated by the district,” he added.
Smallwood played high school baseball for Dan Bowling at Hamilton from 2002-04. He then played at the University of the Cumberlands before returning to coach Hamilton’s freshman team in 2008.
“I hope to continue building the program that Brian has started,” Smallwood said. “Effort and attitude are what I preach. We’re going to hustle and work hard and let that manifest throughout the season.”
Smallwood said he will make some changes to the strength and conditioning program, and he plans to get started in the early fall after the no-contact period ends.
Edgewood was 11-13 overall this past season and finished in fourth place (5-5) in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.
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