George Maddox brings expertise to Amherst softball program

By Laura Clark

Published: May 14, 2008

When one of the Lancer pitchers needs to regroup mid-inning, coach George Maddox ambles out to the mound for a pep talk.

“I try to get them to focus on the catcher’s glove, calm down, and the main thing to tell them is it’s just a game. We’re out there to have fun,” he said.

Maddox, 62, of Clifford, joined the varsity softball team this season as a volunteer coach. His expertise is pitching, as his daughters Adrienne and Suzanne, now grown, were both pitchers. He brings 20 years of coaching experience to Amherst, as well as a sense of humor teenage girls can appreciate.

“He’s laid back,” senior pitcher Bianca Gilmore said. “He understands that we’re almost adults, and we like to play around a lot.”

At the same time, Maddox quickly earned the girls’ respect by his knowledge of all aspects of the game. Gilmore hit her first home run after Maddox told her to choke up at the plate. Shortstop Kyla Rose perfected her movements to field a ball. Sydney Lewis has added a few more pitches to her count.

“He’s shown me how to throw a new drop ball and a new changeup,” Lewis said. “He’s showing us an easier, better way to do things.”
Head coach Larry Thomas said he’s seen drastic improvements in his pitchers through the season.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere where we are if he wasn’t here helping us,” Thomas said. “It’s taken so much pressure off me, him handling the pitchers and catchers. It frees me up to work more on defense.”

Thomas, who has known Maddox since Maddox’s daughters were playing Dixie softball, asked him to join the team when Suzanne left her coaching job at Brookville. Maddox had helped her pitchers for five years.

“Then his daughter moved away, and he wasn’t coaching anything.” Thomas said. “I think he was getting kind of itchy. It was going to be a year where he didn’t have anything to do so I called and asked and he just said, ‘yes sir, I’d be glad to.’ I think sometimes he’ll work through lunch so he can leave a half hour early and drive all the way over here (from Intermet Foundry).”

Maddox has come out on weekends to work on the field, putting down gravel and patching the pitching backstops. As a coach, he says he doesn’t count his success by wins or losses, but by every single player improving. His love for softball and the players keeps him coming out. Maddox plans to retire from the foundry in several months, but not the ballpark.

“I need something to keep me active,” he said. “Coaching and playing with grandchildren is what I intend to do. I guess I’m going to have to go to baseball now - I’ve got three grandsons.”