(Courtesy: Frontier League, Photo Credit: Mick Lite)
The Rascals are proud to announce that fan favorite Eric Williams will become the Rascals hitting coach for the 2015 season. With the team since 2011, Eric has proven himself a valuable player and will now work to prove himself as a great coach. The 2014 season saw Eric post a .224 batting average with 26 runs batted in and a team high 90 walks. Eric definitely knew how to work the plate as a player and now, as a coach, he will have to teach the same skill that made him succeed.
Starting baseball at “eight or nine,” Williams knows he hasn’t played the game as long as some other players, but he is getting a chance to stay with it longer than maybe even he anticipated. His journey to the Rascals began when he was traded to River City from his team in Wichita. Three days later, however, he had to pack up his things yet again when he was traded back to his original team. After another full season with that team, Eric was traded back and has been with the Rascals ever since.
Williams has been involved in some great Rascals accomplishments since becoming a member of the team. He responds, “Being in a championship twice since I was there,” when asked what his greatest moment of being a Rascal was. He definitely enjoyed last season’s playoff run.
Although Williams cherished being a Rascals player, he now begins a brand new experience in coaching. He thinks the easiest part of that transition will be that there are “a lot of returning guys so there is a relationship already established” and that they “already have a foundation built.” But, he does know that this transition could become difficult because Eric and the returning players do “have to change the relationship slightly” and “they aren’t exactly teammates anymore.” Eric is confident, however, that he “already has respect” with the returning players “so it shouldn’t be that tough of a transition.”
Eric’s goals for the next season “don’t have anything to do with numbers.” He is just focused on trying “to get guys going as fast as I can and keep them going as long as I can.” He wants to really “get them going when they’re struggling whether it be talking to them or getting them in the cages.” He’s preparing to make this happen by “giving lessons to younger guys” where he is “preaching fundamentals.” Eric knows that the younger guys “either forget fundamentals or think too much about them.” So, he will make sure they all know them by the time the season really gets rolling.
Eric is already well prepared to take on the role of hitting coach. He’s thought through what his approach will be and what things he might have to overcome to start really making a difference. But, Rascals fans already know Williams will make a difference. He’s been doing that for the team since 2011 and he won’t stop in 2015 when he takes on a new role. The River City Rascals fans love Eric Williams, no matter what title he holds.
