'Always a winner': Eddies' Gaideski to be inducted into high school baseball hall of fame
Bill Gaideski II says his brother A.J. "was always a winner. You just knew he was going to succeed at anything he did."
Brandywine baseball coach Dave Sidenbender said, "A.J. does a great job of preparing his kids to be successful on the field."
And Niles coach Mike Vota said, "He's successful through hard work and getting the most out of his players."
A.J. Gaideski has built Edwardsburg into a baseball power. In his 23rd year, Gaideski has directed the Eddies to a 474-238 record, the sixth-highest win total by a baseball coach in Southwestern Michigan history. And later this month, Gaideski will be inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on June 20 at Comerica Park in Detroit as part of the All-Star Game festivities.
"When A.J. first took over, Edwardsburg wasn't really on the map," Vota said. "But he's built a highly-successful program and his kids are always prepared. He always has a strong hitting team. His kids put the ball in play. It's not a team that you can go in and strike out a majority of his players. We've now got a rivalry with them built out of mutual respect. They run a program that's good year in and year out. You know when you play them that it's going to be a tough game. They're just sound. They don't beat themselves. And that comes back to good discipline on the team and having players playing in the right positions."
"His players always seem to be prepared and polished," Sidenbender said. "Their philosophy seems to be throwing strikes, playing defense and putting the ball in play. And they always seem to be able to do that."
Sherm Ostrander coached Gaideski when he was the Niles and Southwestern Michigan College baseball coach and played a role in hiring him when he was the superintendent at Edwardsburg.
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"A.J. is just a hard worker and he's determined," said Ostrander, whose son, Mike, played for Gaideski and whose grandson, Connor, is the current team's shortstop. "He has high expectations and his teams are disciplined. And today's world is so different. The kids are a different breed. So, to be successful, you have to make adjustments and evolve. And he's done that without lowering his expectations. He expects things to be done a certain way and holds players accountable."
"He's always had a drive to be excellent in everything he does," his brother Bill II said.
"He pushes us," said Connor Ostrander, the shortstop on this year's 22-5 team who is hitting .494. "We always are doing more in practice. He always wants us to have pressure on us in practice so when we face pressure in games, it will seem like normal practice situations. He creates a good bond with all the players. Everyone is close and when you're close, you win more games."
Gaideski got into coaching after a storied high school career at Niles in which he was all-conference in football, basketball and baseball. But baseball has been part of his life almost from birth.
"I think I started playing baseball as soon as I could walk," Gaideski said.
His father, Bill, would throw batting practice to him as he was growing up. And A.J., his brothers, Bill II and Tony and sister, Tracy, would play with neighborhood children at Howard School or Howard Park. A.J., the youngest, is now 54.
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In high school, he was the quarterback and middle linebacker on winning football teams. And Niles has had just five winning seasons in 36 years since. Gaideski was a starting guard on a Viking basketball team which finished 21-3. And he was the second baseman on Niles' 28-2 district champion 1985 baseball team.
After college, Gaideski got into coaching at Niles High School at various levels for football, basketball and baseball. And many of the coaches he's played or worked under have had a lasting affect.
"Each one of the them had an impact," Gaideski said. "They taught me a lot about sports. Dan Wright (Hall of Fame baseball coach) taught me how to play the game right and to make sure you're respectful of the game.
Sherm Ostrander was the master organizer and had a great ability to motivate you. We would run through a wall for him. Bud Magrane (basketball coach) made you love the game. He was also a good friend and someone you could talk to and who would give you good advice. Dave Davisson was a great tactician, especially on defense. He could change a defense in a week and you'd think we worked on it for a year. Joe Austin (football coach and athletic director) gave me my start in coaching, hiring me as JV baseball coach and middle school basketball coach at Niles. He mentored me a lot for my coaching and was there every step of the way for the first part of my career."
In 23 years at the helm, Edwardsburg has had just one losing season, finishing 13-20 during his second year in 2000. His teams have won 13 conference titles and his last eight squads have won at least 22 games.
But Gaideski refuses to take much of the credit for the program's success.
"It takes a lot of great players, great assistant coaches and a great family to achieve success," Gaideski said. "My family has been terrific. They support me so much. My wife, Kelly, is amazing. And just look at her resume. She was a teacher for 10 to 12 years and has been in administration for another 18 (getting ready to retire as assistant superintendent at St. Joseph). Her work ethic and the passion she has for kids and education is unbelievable. The help of assistant coaches is paramount in a program. And Craig Pulling and Brad Ostrander have been the life blood of this one. They've put a lot of time and effort into it and are the big reason why we're successful."
Area coaching win leaders
John Donley, Berrien Springs (1987-2021) 699
Ben Botti, Decatur (1995-current) 578 (Paw Paw Tuesday)
Jerry Hinman, River Valley (1971-80, 1983-97) 541
Gary Owen, Bridgman (1969-2004) 518
Dean Hagen, Dowagiac (1977-97) 482
A.J. Gaideski, Edwardsburg (1999-current) 474 (Bridgman Tuesday)
Chuck Hurdle, Brandywine (1971-2000) 465
Ted Hendricks, St. Joseph (1989-2008) 445
Dave Sidenbender, Brandywine (2000-current) 421 (Buchanan Tuesday)
Mike Vota, Niles (1999-current) 419 (Berrien Springs Tuesday)
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: A.J. Gaideski going into Michigan high school baseball hall of fame
