New Wayneboro coaches introduced

By Corine Gatti

Published: September 22, 2008

Waynesboro High School announced the hiring of its new baseball and softball coach Monday afternoon.
Little Giants assistant baseball coach Webber Payne replaced longtime coach Jim Critzer, and John Hull has taken over as the softball coach for Jason Aleshire.
“I will continue the tradition that coach Critzer began eight or nine years ago of bringing winning baseball to Waynesboro,” Payne said. “We are going to continue to teach fundamental baseball and let the kids play the best they can play and we’ll take the wins and the loses and deal with each as they come.”
Webber has coached JV and varsity with the Giants since 2000.
“It’s going to be a new start this year losing eight or nine seniors, but we got a great group of 10th graders coming up and they are going to be young, but all can play the game and all know the fundamentals,” Payne said.
Hull was the assistant softball coach for the last two seasons.
“I will be coming up on my third season. I have seen the low times and the mediocre times,” Hull said. “I’m going to strive for a little better time. I have had the privilege of working with a bunch of seniors again, and hopefully they’ll show up and bring the potential that they have to the field.”
Waynesboro Superintendent Robin Crowder said the new coaches have the right balance for the program.
“Both of these folks are great for kids, and that is one of the most important thing as a school division are folks that serve as role models for our kids,”  he said. “Having Webber and having John really enhances our program. We are very excited about that.”
Athletic Director Mel Morris was also confident about the hiring.
“I feel that both of them have the ability to lead the program in a positive direction,” Morris. “Besides having the continuity [of] already knowing all the kids in the program and the kids knowing them. I think that is a plus that the kids have confidence in knowing them.”
This will be Hull’s first head coaching job.
“I’m really excited to take over the position,” Hull said. “I know who I have to work with. Everything should fit right into place.”