Rick White

Craig Isaac

Springfield, Ohio — Not every day do college baseball fans see a former major league player and a local Hall of Famer join an already active coaching staff at an NCAA Division III institution. Imagine an all-time Southwestern Ohio All-Star team, and it is likely to include the names of the current Wittenberg Tiger baseball coaching staff.

In addition to 13th-year head coach Jay Lewis, Wittenberg class of 1994, and assistant coach Rick Gold, who has been inducted into the Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Ohio High School Coaches Association Hall Of Fame, the Red & White have added two more top-notch baseball minds to the 2009 staff. Former Springfield Kenton Ridge High School star and Major League Baseball standout Rick White brings his 14 years of professional experience to the Tiger pitching staff. In addition, Craig Isaac, Wittenberg class of 1994, makes the transition from prep school to collegiate coaching after eight seasons leading the baseball program at Springfield Shawnee High School.

Isaac left his fingerprints on one of the most successful high school baseball programs in the region, capping his career with three league titles before earning entry into the Clark County Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year. During his collegiate playing days, Isaac impressed Springfield baseball fans with three All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors and a selection to the All-Midwest Region team in his senior season of 1994.

Isaac and Lewis have remained close since they graduated together from Wittenberg, and with Isaac stepping away from Shawnee, the option to bring him on board at his alma mater seemed ideal to Lewis.

"It is truly a pleasure to have a teammate back to help out the Tigers," Lewis said of his former battery-mate. "He had great presence, determination and a will to win that he brought each day to the field.

"He has already impacted our pitchers as we prepare for the season and look forward to the season with him coaching the staff."

Lewis and White have maintained a close relationship throughout his lengthy career. An addition of a veteran major leaguer would be welcome on any team's staff, but with the longstanding friendship between Lewis and White, the addition was a no-brainer.

"Even during his playing days, Rick was a tremendous help to our pitchers before he would head off to spring training, but now having him on a full-time basis will make the situation that much better," noted the Tiger skipper. "He has a great baseball mind and will be able to help our veteran pitchers close out great careers while starting the newcomers in the right direction."

Lewis, White, Isaac and Gold steer the Tigers into the 2009 season coming off a spring where Wittenberg finished 19-19 and 7-9 in the NCAC West Division. Twenty-one letterwinners return to the squad as the Red & White kick off this year's campaign in Winter Haven, Fla., with nine varsity games in six days, starting on Sunday, March 8, against the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Written By: Ben Bradley

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Related Links: Wittenberg Baseball Home Page