David Stone steps down at Hagerty; Kenne Brown returns home to Lyman

Consider it a moment of clarity after nearly two decades in the dugout.

As Hagerty’s softball season came to an end last week in the regional finals during a 10-1 loss at Pace, head coach David Stone was reminded of why he stuck around the game for so long.

“Their true colors really showed,” said Stone, 46. “No matter the score, they cheered for each other even louder as the game went on. They were supportive throughout the entire season from start to finish.”

It’s quite a parting memory for Stone, who steps away from coaching after spending the past 12 seasons at Hagerty where he led the program to a state championship win in 2018 and state runner-up finish in 2014. He previously assisted for seven seasons at Oviedo.

The Huskies knew what they were up against all spring. Pace entered regionals as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 6A and the goal was to at least be in that position for a chance to advance to the state tournament.

“We just weren’t good enough that day. But it was a refreshing moment as a coach,” Stone said. “It’s what you hope for when building a team. You might not win it all, but that’s not the sole purpose of it. It’s so weird to think about, but we were able to walk away with smiles and be happy to have made that journey together.”

Stone, who will continue teaching math and science as he’s done the past 23 years at nearby Carillon Elementary, walks away at peace with his decision.

He’s grateful for the unwavering support of his family and the softball parents and players that have passed through the program, and relationships forged with opposing coaches such as Lake Mary’s Jeannie Fisher, Lake Howell’s Tom Kreahling and the late Mark Huaman of Winter Springs.

Stone plans to pursue volunteer work while transitioning to afternoons away from the ballfield.

“I don’t know what’s out there, but I’m looking forward to whatever is ahead,” he said. “It was an amazing time [at Hagerty] and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Celebration and Windermere Prep join Hagerty with recent head softball coaching vacancies. Anyssa Robles spent five seasons with the Storm. Jenilee Tomlinson coached one season at Windermere.

Faith Christian is looking to relaunch its program following a two-year hiatus, according to a job listing posted by new athletic director Michael Stringer at FHSAA.com.

Baseball changes

Kenne Brown couldn’t pass up the chance to sign on as new head baseball coach at Lyman, where he graduated in 1982 after playing for state champion coach Bob McCullough.

Brown, 59, spent the past five years at Sanford Seminole and won a state title with the ’Noles in 2019. Lyman has had four coaches during that span.

“I don’t know how many guys get an opportunity to go back to their own school, but I thought I’d probably never get to do it,” Brown said. “It’s pretty cool to still be able to make your old varsity coach proud of you. I’m pumped for it.”

McCullough, who led the Greyhounds to a state title in 1995 and runner-up finish in ‘96, still mows the athletic fields at Lyman. Brown hopes to entice him into being a bigger part of the program alongside incoming assistants Rob Williams, Josh Glazar and Jeremy Griffith.

Glazar was a sophomore on Seminole’s state championship team. Griffith played for Brown during his stint as head coach at Oviedo in the late 1990s.

“I think I’ve done just about everything I could do at Seminole,” Brown said. “We turned it around and I hate leaving it, but this is closer to home and a really good challenge for me personally.”

Kissimmee Osceola, Edgewater, Freedom and Foundation Academy enter the summer in search of new baseball coaches.

Long-time Osceola coach Scott Birchler announced his retirement from coaching during the program’s season-ending banquet Wednesday, according to PositivelyOsceola.com. Birchler, who began his career at Osceola in 1993, left for jobs at Dr. Phillips and Liberty before returning to the Kowboys as head coach in 2011.

Edgewater is looking to replace Casey Gierke, who took over the program in 2018. Freedom had been coached by Jeff Gray the past four seasons.

Jay Welsh resigned as head coach at Foundation Academy after two seasons, which included a state semifinal appearance in 2022 and regional final finish this spring while compiling a 40-17-2 record.

Welsh cited “philosophical differences with the school’s expectations of the program” for his decision to step down.

NCAA softball

The Orlando area is represented by four players this weekend in the NCAA Division I softball super regional tournament.

Winter Springs graduate Kaley Mudge is batting .344 (66-for-192) with 36 RBI, 22 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases for Florida State. The No. 3 Seminoles (51-8) opened super regionals vs. No. 13 Georgia (40-13) on Thursday night. The teams play the second game of a best-of-three series Friday at 8 p.m.

Mudge set an NCAA record for most hits in a Women’s College World Series tournament during FSU’s runner-up season in 2019.

Duke freshman infielders Aminah Vega (Orange City University) and Jada Baker (Lyman) helped the Blue Devils secure the No. 8 seed. Vega is batting .378 (65-for-172) with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 40 runs scored. Baker has a .244 average (22-for-90) with 17 runs score.

The Blue Devils (46-10) open against No. 9 Stanford (41-13) on Friday at noon and Saturday at 3 p.m.

Cali Decker, a University of Florida transfer out of Lake Mary, is a sophomore catcher for unranked San Diego State. Decker is batting .382 (55-for-144) with 40 RBI and 6 home runs.

The Aztecs (37-15) face No. 15 Utah (38-13) on Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.

NCAA baseball

Rollins College is two wins shy of returning to the NCAA Division II national championship tournament for only the seventh time since 1954.

The Tars (37-17), a national semifinalist last season, are home this weekend in a super regional series vs. Sunshine State Conference foe Barry University (35-17).

First pitch Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Alfond Stadium in Winter Park. Saturday’s game is slated for 2 p.m.

Jeslyn Whitehead (Olympia), Adams Torres (Celebration) and Cameron Meehan and Parker Smith of Timber Creek are among 14 players on roster from the Orlando area.

Whitehead leads the team in batting average (.378) and hits (90) and has 47 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Torres is batting .360 (80-for-222) with 40 RBI and 22 extra-base hits while Meehan has 49 RBI, 10 homers and 10 stolen bases. Smith leads the team with 21 home runs.

This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.