MVI-BeeGraphix Softball Coach of the Year: Hartman’s Commodores fulfill dream

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
A short amount of time before his team started preparing for warmups prior to the PIAA Class 2A softball championship, Don Hartman wandered under the media tent to mingle with local media members.
That is until he was kicked out by a PIAA subordinate for not having a media credential. All class, Hartman laughed. The lackey probably didn’t realize he was talking to the Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix Dirty Dozen Softball Coach of the Year, and hours later, a state championship winning coach.
All kidding aside, the Commodores finished this season with a 21-4 overall record, capping it off with a thrilling 6-5 win over District 3’s Brandywine Heights in the state championship game.
Again, it was Hartman, or his gut, with a critical decision leading up to the exciting finish.
“One of my former assistant coaches, Shaun Rice, texted me before the game,” Hartman said. “It said to always go with my gut.
“Well my gut said to intentionally walk the second girl and pitch to (Jadyn) Richards. We had the bases loaded, so infield way in and outfield in, I mean if she crushes one the game’s over anyway.”
But Richards didn’t. She hit a short, slicing fly ball to Mackenzie Kelly who caught it and fired home to gun down the tying run for a double play to clinch the district’s first team state championship.
It was something the Hartman trophy case was missing. As a high school player, baseball coach and now softball coach, a state championship was always just out of reach.
Not anymore.
“For me personally, this has always been a dream of mine,” Hartman said after the win. “And this is the greatest coaching dream. I get to do this with my wife by my side as an assistant coach and I got to watch my daughter win this as a player. It’s the greatest feeling ever.
“I have 12 kids here that came to work every single day. Some people wouldn’t believe some of the things we do. But this is what we’ve worked so hard for. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.”
The thing Hartman may not have realized was the extent that his players wanted the state championship for him.
“It’s an amazing feeling getting him this championship,” senior Megan Celaschi said. “I mean, 27 years, there’s no one that deserves it more. He’s been my coach since I was 10. I know how much he loves all of us and how much he loves coaching. It’s special to be a part of the team that got this for him.”
As a young girl going to all of his games while he was the head coach of California’s baseball team, there’s no one who knows how bad Hartman wanted a state title more than his daughter Logan.
“He’s worked so hard for this. He’s worked so hard for us,” Logan Hartman said. “We both dreamed about getting to this game and winning it.”
The commitment to his team and coaching has gone way beyond the field of play.
“My dad has put in countless hours of work and effort into this game of baseball and softball. It is just what he does. If he isn’t on the field coaching..then he is reading about how to become a better coach. He’s watching games on tv. He never stops,” Logan, the oldest of three Hartman daughters, said. “There’s a reason we have athletes from years ago still coming back to our house to visit him. It’s more than a sport and being able to finally show his hard work with a state title is one of the best things for him.”
Along with coaching the Commodores, Hartman stays at it, coaching a Team Pennsylvania 14u team.
“He has a huge love for this game and what it does for us athletes, he loves making us better as an athlete and prepare us for life ahead,” Logan Hartman said.
Commodores third baseman Kathryn Barch became emotional thinking about how much the state title meant to her coach.
“As a player, we’ve always wanted this. But we wanted it just as much for him,” Barch said. “It means everything to us to win it, but it means everything to us to get it for him, too.”
Hartman admitted he didn’t plan on being the high school coach heading into the 2017 season. But in his first season, he won the first WPIAL championship in program history. The team has played in the WPIAL title game in each of his seasons at the helm.
Frazier athletic director Zach Keefer said Hartman is the epitome of what a high school coach should be.
“When thinking of the top of the high school coaching mountain, Donnie has reached that with this state championship,” Keefer said. The biggest thing is he is the first to tell you that it is all about his players and give all praise to them.
“What doesn’t go unnoticed is his relentless efforts in preparation leading up to every practice, scrimmage and game. The countless hours of film study and player breakdowns of opponents and how he gets his girls to play for each other and as one is second to none. I’m so proud of this team and what they have been able to accomplish over the last few years. I consider myself lucky to have Donnie as a colleague, friend, and most importantly to me, mentor. It was also awesome to see how the community rallied around the team and Frazier Nation is very lucky to have Coach Hartman.”
The long-time coach laughed, saying he could just walk away from coaching right now, happy with a state title in his bag. But anyone that knows the man, especially this one with nearly his whole team returning, is ready to shoot for a repeat.
“He would always tell me winning a state title is just a dream as a coach but to do it with my group of girls was like nothing he ever imagined,’’ Logan Hartman added. “He, by far, deserved this after 27 years that’s for sure.”