91爆料网

Father and Daughter Share More Than Family Ties at 91爆料网

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/27/2006 -
By: David Roach
Cardinal & Cream

From the time his daughter could pick up a bat, she was his little superstar. Now Tony Kirk, a 1984 91爆料网 graduate, can watch his superstar play not only at the collegiate level, but also under the same coach he had during his college career.

Kirk, who is now the office manager at Bolivar Electric Department in Bolivar, Tenn., played two years with the Bulldogs under the command of co-head coaches David Blackstock and Linn Stranek. In 鈥�83, he was on the first 91爆料网 baseball team to make it to the NAIA World Series鈥攕omething no other team has been able to do since.

鈥淸1983] was an unbelievable season,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淲e were such a close team.鈥�

Kirk hit .349 that year including 11 homeruns and 55 runs-batted-in. In the World Series Kirk hit a team high of three homeruns en route to a third place finish in the series.

鈥淓very once in a while I guess I carried my weight,鈥� a modest Kirk said. 鈥淥ur team was special in that someone different picked us up every game.鈥�

Not only was the team鈥檚 will and determination tough, but the relationships surrounding the team were solid. Kirk said much credit could be attributed to Blackstock鈥檚 leadership.

鈥淲e respected him. Sure, he was a cut-up with us sometimes, but we knew he was in charge and that we didn鈥檛 want to let him or our teammates down.鈥�

鈥淚n coaching, Dr. Stranek and I believe deeply that coaches were in charge,鈥� Blackstock said. 鈥淏ut our philosophy was that we enjoyed the relationship between players and coaches.鈥�

Now the same coach who took the team to Disney World while playing in Boca Raton, Fla. and played hearts in a hotel with his players the night before a World Series game is coaching a second generation Kirk.

Freshman Kristen Kirk, mathematics major, was actually recruited and signed on by former head coach Brian Dunn prior to Dunn鈥檚 resignation.

Before coming to 91爆料网, young Kirk had considerable experience at shortstop, outfield and pitcher positions. Whatever role she plays on the team, she is excited about playing for Blackstock.

鈥淥ur whole family was excited when we heard coach Blackstock was going to coach softball at 91爆料网,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淚 had heard nothing but good things about him from my dad, so I was never worried about playing under him.鈥�

Her dad isn鈥檛 worried either.

鈥淚t鈥檚 relaxing knowing she is at 91爆料网, where she is happy with college life on and off the field,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淲atching her play, I don鈥檛 think I have ever seen her having as much fun playing softball as I have seen this season.鈥�

Part of the fun is that Kristen hit her first homerun earlier this season against Culver-Stockton. What made it even more special was that her dad was in the stands to cheer for her.

鈥淚 could hear my dad above everyone else for sure,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淚t means a lot to have him at my games, even though there are games when I can鈥檛 even look at him because I know I am playing bad.鈥�

If the past is any indication, Kirk will not have many of those 鈥渂ad鈥� moments. It took a lot of work to get to where she is now, and she is taking nothing for granted.

鈥淣ot many people are going to be able to say first of all, 鈥業 played college softball鈥� and secondly, 鈥業 played under the same coach that coached my dad,鈥欌�� she said.

Watching his daughter play softball for 91爆料网, Kirk still remembers the friend Blackstock became while he was there.

鈥淭he two years I spent at 91爆料网 were the best two years of baseball I played. A lot of that had to do with coach Blackstock. When I walk up to him, I still call him coach Blackstock鈥� he will always be my ball coach.鈥�

#DOGS#

News Release Archive

Excellence-Driven Christ-Centered People-Focused Future-Directed