When Stewarts Creek baseball fans stand to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the spring of 2014, Coach Mike Bartlett will be leading the team.
Bartlett is no stranger to the game of baseball. His own collegiate career at Arkansas Tech University encompasses four years as a varsity baseball letterman, all-conference for one year, all-district for two years, all-star game two years, and conference batting champion for one year. During his tenure, the team won the conference for two years and the district for two years. Additionally, he was an Academic All-American Nominee and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education.
Coaching experience comes in many forms to Bartlett. Currently, he is the assistant baseball coach at Siegel High School, whose record shows two years as 7-AAA Champions and three years as Region 4 Tournament champs, but he was also head baseball coach at Ola High School, West Memphis High School, and Lebanon High School before becoming a Siegel Star.
Bartlett says having the opportunity to build a program in 7-AAA, one of the strongest districts statewide, is a challenge I look forward to undertaking. We will build our program on the fundamentals of pitching, defense, and offensive execution, the cornerstones of championship baseball.
Bartlett began his coaching career as an assistant football coach and spent eight year as defensive coordinator. His record boasts an impressive three conference championships–including a #3 state ranking–and 11 playoff appearances.
Assistant Principal and Red Hawks Athletic Director Kevin Dyson says Coach Bartlett is one of those coaches that kids just gravitate to. His passion for the game speaks for itself, but it is his passion to teach the game of life through baseball that makes me excited to have him as our inaugural head coach.