Among the new faces at Pelahatchie High School this year is Kelcy Aldridge, head baseball coach.
“He was touted as being one of the best coaches in the state,” said Dr. Bryan Marshall, PHS principal. “Knowing him personally, I knew he would be a solid, moral role model for our kids to learn the game of baseball and life lessons from.”
Aldridge is no stranger to baseball. He played from the time he was four years old until he graduated from Millsaps College. Most of his philosophies as a coach could be traced back to his dad, and Coach McClaskey, at Northwest Rankin, and Coach Jim Page, at Millsaps.
Some of Aldridge’s strengths as a coach are that he is a workhorse and that he demands excellence. He is relentless when it comes to work. From working on the field, to evolving with the game, to raising money for the program, he is going to put forth maximum effort. He expects the same from the guys on the team.
“Effort is essential, not only on the baseball field, but even more importantly in the classroom,” he said.
He also likes his players to show a great attitude. He wants them to practice all out and be knowledgeable about the game. Aldridge said that in his experience guys loaded with talent, but lazy, will be passed up for a guy with lesser talent that has the heart and the drive to succeed.
Aldridge is excited to be in the Pelahatchie community where “people have a mindset of hard work and determination. We definitely want Pelahatchie and the surrounding communities to support our program, but we want to support them as well.”
Aldridge stresses to the guys to be supportive of community and school events. The team has helped with the community’s Fall Festival and will be hosting summer baseball camps for 7-12 year olds. The coaching staff is putting maximum effort forth as well by holding a spring coaching clinic for the youth baseball program at Milltown Park.
“Our program doesn’t start when kids get to the 7th grade. It begins when the kids start playing out at Milltown. I want the coaches there to feel equipped in teaching these younger players the fundamentals of baseball. The earlier we teach these fundamentals, the better chance these young athletes have to reach their full potential,” Aldridge says.
Aldridge’s goal beyond the field is to see his baseball team lead all other sports and activities in GPA. He knows that this is a tough goal, but he is willing to push the guys to work hard, be responsible, accountable, and successful leaders with integrity now as well as later when they begin to raise their own families.
Aldridge receives a tremendous amount of support from PHS, parents, and the community, but his greatest support comes from his family. “They have always believed in me as a person and a coach.” He also has had former coaches and players encouraging him this year. His wife, Malorie, a softball and volleyball coach at Brandon, has been a rock for him.
The effect Aldridge is having on the baseball team is evident when you see the guys play. They are working hard and having fun. They are putting forth the effort their coach asks for on and off the field. With his staff, Dylan Parker and Brent Leach, things are looking up for this small town baseball team.