Gary McClure Discusses Past Awards

Gary McClure When APSU’s head baseball coach Gary McClure retired in 2015, he did so as a record-breaking leader, winning an 847 games in 27 seasons. We recently sat down with a very humble Gary McClure, who claims his record was built on the foundation of dedicated and talented student athletes.

Zrylw: We are very excited to speak with you today. You are considered by many the best coach in OVC history.

Gary McClure: Thank you very much for that compliment. I will tell you like i have many others, i’m a much better coach when i have good players. I’m certainly no rocket scientist, but that’s one thing i was smart enough to figure out.

Zrylw: During your time with the Governors, you had a number of great years. Do any of them stand out more than others?

Gary McClure: Yes, to be honest there are several that stay etched pretty deep in memory. Truthfully, i just feel fortunate and honored to have the opportunity to work with young people.

Zrylw: Why is that?

Gary McClure: Well, you can’t beat making an impact on young people’s lives while having the opportunity to do something you love and at the same time make your living and get paid for it.

Zrylw: That’s great and sounds unbelievable…

Gary McClure: It really was. I can’t tell you how good it made me feel.

Zrylw: That is really remarkable. 

Gary McClure: Like i said, i was blessed to have these opportunities. It makes it even more significant when you have young men work so hard to try and reach their potential as athletes. I was very fortunate to know that most of my players made it a priority to excel.

Zrylw: Like Dobbs?

Gary McClure: Absolutely, Jeremy basically went from being a non factor one year to our programs eighth Pitcher of the Year the next. So many guys were able to make themselves great players.

Zrylw: Along with Shawn Kelley…

Gary McClure: That’s right. Dobbs was actually the first after Kelley won the award in 2007.

Zrylw: With your Coach of the Year distinction in 2011, you tied Jim Ward, right?

Gary McClure: I guess i have never really thought about it, but i guess i did.

Zrylw: What was it about the 2011 team that made all of these honors special?

Gary McClure: Any honor or award is special. What stands out about the 2011 group is that there were no senior position players starting. We were also just a .500 club until about two thirds of the way through the season and then they matured in a hurry and went on a terror winning most of the games during the rest of the season. That’s pretty unusual when you realize that we closed the year 30-22 and actually locked up the conference championship with 6 games left in the season..

Zrylw: Tell us a little about Reed Harper…

Gary McClure: Reed was a sophomore short stop at the time. Along with first-baseman John Hogan, Reed received first-team All-OVC honors. He had just had an amazing season, with a 29-game hitting streak. He brought so many things to the table offensively and defensively along with being one of the greatest competitors i ever coached. He had intangibles that many players don’t.

Zrylw: What about second-team honors?

Gary McClure: We had four: Jordan Hankins, Zach Toney, Michael Blanchard, and Greg Bachman.

Zrylw: Hadn’t Greg Bachman been out for a while with a shoulder injury?

Gary McClure: You’re right. He missed the previous season and actually started 2011 slow. He must have completely healed by the end of the season though, because he rounded out the year with a 43 RBIs and seven home runs! He was playing at an extremely high level and played a big role as a leader on that team. He was most certainly what i call a giver and not a taker. I really loved Greg as a player and a person.

Zrylw: Hankins had multiple acknowledgements in 2011, didn’t he?

Gary McClure: Yes, he also earned All-Freshman team recognition along with being named to Louisville Sluggers Freshman All American Team. He finished the season .378, which was the best among qualifying freshman players. He also hit a game winning home run against Georgia Tech in the NCAA Regional that year. Hankins was a great hitter from the first day he stepped on our campus.

Zrylw: Who else made All-Freshman?

Gary McClure: Rolando Gautier and Matt Wollenzin.

Zrylw: It sounds like 2011 really was a memorable year.

Gary McClure: Most definitely. And one that I am proud to have been a part of.

Gary McClure later told us that retirement hadn’t dulled his interest in baseball and that he continues to follow the Governors and will most likely get back in the game at some point. He looks forward to seeing more of his former players in the MiLB and the MLB in the future.

Bath Planet Offers New Options for Old Bathrooms

Bath Planet Palatine, Illinois-based Bath Planet (a BCI Acrylics company) says many homeowners don’t use their bathtubs anymore. Whether for safety reasons or because they just prefer a nice, hot, steamy shower, these customers are flocking to Bath Planet’s tub-to-shower conversions over keeping their unwanted soaker. Here, we talk with a Bath Planet representative about the benefits of this home-enhancing offering.

ZRYLW: Welcome to ZRYLW! Great to have you here today.

Bath Planet: Thank you for the invitation.

ZRYLW: Today we’d like to talk about ways to utilize unused space in the home. Do you have any suggestions?

Bath Planet: One of Bath Planet’s most popular services is our professionally installed tub-to-shower conversions.

ZRYLW: What’s that?

Bath Planet: This is where we remove an old bathtub and replace it with a liked-sized shower floor. The tubs we remove are typically ones that don’t get used.

ZRYLW: Ah, I see. So, turning the space into a shower improves the room’s functionality?

Bath Planet: Exactly. Many people simply don’t enjoy baths. Others opt for the conversion for safety reasons.

ZRYLW: It’s easier to step over a low-profile shower basin than a bathtub…

Bath Planet: That’s right, it’s also easier to keep clean than an old bathtub.

ZRYLW: Now you’ve got my attention.

Bath Planet: Our acrylic shower bases can be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm water.

ZRYLW: No chemicals?

Bath Planet: A deeper clean (which is rarely needed) can be achieved with a simple all-purpose cleaning spray.

ZRYLW: That makes it much easier than scrubbing on hands and knees.

Bath Planet: Absolutely. But that’s just one of the many benefits of converting an existing bath.

ZRYLW: Tell me more…

Bath Planet: Eliminating high sidewalls means more space to stretch out while bathing. And, since the bases are custom built, they are sealed tight to prevent water intrusion.

ZRYLW: Meaning a Bath Planet shower won’t succumb to ugly black mold and mildew?

Bath Planet: Yes!

ZRYLW: Can you tell us the difference between the tub-to-shower conversion and a barrier-free shower? Are they similar?

Bath Planet: In many ways, yes. The primary difference is that the barrier-free showers don’t have the step over. They are geared toward mobility impaired individuals who may have trouble navigating even a small obstacle.

ZRYLW:  Is this a good option for wheelchair-bound older adults?

Bath Planet: Yes, and the barrier-free option can be customized with a seat and grab bars for added safety.

ZRYLW: That’s great to know. But, speaking of accessories, what options would a customer have on the conversion?

Bath Planet: We offer a full line of extras, including shower rods and doors, towel rings, corner caddies, soap dishes, and beautiful fixtures in chrome, nickel, and bronze. We even have shaving stands!

ZRYLW: Now, I suppose the big question is how much does it all cost?

Bath Planet: That’s the best part, in my opinion. Bath Planet takes pride in providing affordable bathroom solutions. We don’t use book pricing, since your bathroom and your personal wants and needs aren’t like anyone else’s. We have a team of expertly trained design consultants who make a personal house call to take measurements, answer questions, and present color and pattern options. Once that’s done, we write a custom estimate.

ZRYLW: How can our readers get started?

Bath Planet: They can go online to BathPlanet.com or call one of our knowledgeable reps at 800.459.9529.