Coach Joe Poem by Matt Mondschein

Thirty years gone by
My senior year
Past many sunsets
Playing baseball
Coached
By an icon named Joe

His two hundreth win
Was hard to get
When it finally came
This game, Ill never forget

We started the year at eight and 0
His win total, at one ninety-nine
Lost eight straight
Then, we lost our minds

The celebration cake, got stale
Doing nothing right
Though we tried, with all our might
Depression, set in
Would he get that
Two hundreth win?

Hooray, It did finally arrive
Extra innings
A game for the ages
A tear in his eye
Again, this team was alive

'It's the little things'
He would say
That count in this game
On this field
In life, in every way

He called us knuckle heads
At times, he did yell
Was he joking or not?
Hell, we could'nt tell

My seven brothers
Were coached by this man
Giving all he had
To this small town clan

As long as I live
I 'll never forget
He called us by our last name
Knew everyone of us
Just the same

We will never, forget
Nor will we, ever regret
The discipline this man showed
Making men of boys'
Playing baseball
Learning heartaches and joys