Players, assistant coaches lament Critzer’s resignation

By Corine Gatti

Published: June 24, 2008

It was no surprise to some Waynesboro baseball players that coach Jim Critzer made his exit official on June 18.

Although the Little Giants were prepared, many were still mourning the final curtain call.

Southpaw Jeremy Hahn expected the coach to vacate his position, but that didn’t change his feelings or his gratitude.

“I knew this was coming sooner or later. I’m glad I graduated,” he said. “I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to coach me.”

Critzer charted the Little Giants to success over his four-year reign with two Group AA Final Four berths and ending his last season with an overall record of 19-7.

“I’m kinda sad about it,” said rising sophomore Drew DeMoss. “He’s probably one of my favorite coaches. It’s kinda heartbreaking. He was good to me.”

Gary Weatherholtz, Critzer’s assistant coach, echoed the sentiments.

“We’re going to miss him, it was time for him move on. We are working on developing ball players now,” he said.

Assistant coach Webber Payne knew Critzer for years.

“I’ve coached with Jim nine or 10 years, he’s gonna be missed,” Payne said. “Jim has built a good program here, nine years with JV and varsity ball.”

Infielder Eric Hall was fearful that the program would be in jeopardy.

“It’s bad for the program. It always hurts to see a good coach go, but he has to do what he has to do,” Hall said.

Payne took a different perspective.

“Most of us will still be around so we will not let that happen,” Payne said. “You can’t replace someone like that and what he meant to the boys and to the program.”

The scrappy coach didn’t receive any bitter words from his students.

Though many outside the program perceived him as being coarse, the Little Giant players saw Critzer’s persona differently.

“That just shows just how passionate he was about the game,” DeMoss said.

Hall said Critzer’s demeanor to outsiders meant nothing to him.

“Still, he was a good coach to me,” Hall said.

At Kate Collins, where many of Critzer’s Little Giants will play their home games for Post 340, pitcher Joseph Lucas lamented Critzer’s retirement.

“It’s going to be different not having him as the coach,” Joseph Lucas said.” I loved having him as my coach.”