looks like he may be watching the wrong team.....!!! I can probably guarantee JH would never ask him to come around. But, that's a guess on my part. Hard to believe he's 84.
WARD OF ADVICE
STILLWATER — Over his 10 years coaching the Oklahoma State softball team, Kenny Gajewski has adapted to a variety of new-age methods to help his program.
Advancements in analytics and video and strategic ideas have altered the thought process in Gajewski’s coaching methods.
But he hasn’t cut loose of his old-school values. That’s why he reached out to Gary Ward, the legendary Oklahoma State baseball coach from 1978-96.
Gajewski first reached out to Ward, who was particularly known for his hitting instruction, several years ago in hopes of getting the coach to visit the Cowgirls’ practices. But Ward was busy caring for his wife, Kathy, who was ill.
Kathy passed away in December 2022. Last year, Gajewski reached out again, and Ward occasionally began stopping in to watch the Cowgirls in the batting cage. This year, Ward’s appearances have been even more regular.
“We’re watching and he’s talking to me about things that he sees,” Gajewski said. “He knows every one of our kids. It’s crazy. He knows the way their swings work, and it’s really kinda cool. It tells me he’s watching every time we’re playing, which just amazes me.
“He loves this game. He loves our kids and he loves the bat and ball. It’s neat to have him around here.”
Perhaps some of Ward’s wisdom is sinking in lately for OSU, which open play at the Big 12 Tournament this week. The fourth-seeded Cowgirls take on No. 5 Arizona State at 11 a.m. Thursday at Devon Park.
OSU’s offense has been on the uptick over the last month of the season, a much-needed improvement after the inconsistencies the team showed through late February and March.
“He’s a legend,” OSU second baseman Rosie Davis said. “I think he gives a lot of good, different perspectives.”
Added shortstop Megan Bloodworth: “He’s not here every day, so he’s like an outside voice. I think he sees things that the coaches who are with us every day might not see. And I think he gives us a little bit of confidence.”
Ward will show up when he can, and watch the players in the batting cage. Maybe he’ll offer them some hitting advice, maybe he’ll talk to them about something other than softball.
Whichever it is, his presence has been valuable for Gajewski, the assistant coaches and the players.
“I’ve been asking Coach Ward to come around for many years,” Gajewski said. “He’s taken care of his wife, Kathy, almost my whole time here while she was sick. He told me, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be around as much as I can, but I have to take care of her. She’s taken care of me and this family forever.’
“And I was like, ‘Gosh, that is a man.’ He’s slowly starting to come around more.”
Though baseball and softball swings aren’t exactly identical, the concepts are quite similar, and Ward’s knowledge translates well.
“I love having him around. He’s just so wise,” first baseman Karli Godwin said. “You learn so much. He doesn’t even hardly talk about ball, honestly. We talk about life lessons that do translate on the field.
“I talk to him about my swing and my mentality in the box, and he has given me a lot of confidence and allowed me to take a step back and get some new perspectives. He’s been great to have around.”
But Ward’s presence isn’t just for the hitters. It benefits Gajewski in managing his program. It provides another sounding board for hitting coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher. And it adds a perspective that comes from a place of wisdom.
“He’s a calm soul,” Gajewski said of the 84-year-old Ward. “I don’t know what he was like to play for. I don’t think that may have been what it was like. But now in this part of his life, he’s just sitting back there and everything that’s in that brain, it’s wild. I hope I’m half as sharp as he is at that age.
“People might think I have him here for our players, but I have him here as much for me as anybody. He just has a way about him that I really enjoy. I want Coach Shippy to have resources that she can utilize.
“He’s starting to have a connection. He knows our girls by first name. I think he’s got meticulous notes on all of them when he sees them play, on things that he sees. I think it’s a unique perspective.”
WARD OF ADVICE
STILLWATER — Over his 10 years coaching the Oklahoma State softball team, Kenny Gajewski has adapted to a variety of new-age methods to help his program.
Advancements in analytics and video and strategic ideas have altered the thought process in Gajewski’s coaching methods.
But he hasn’t cut loose of his old-school values. That’s why he reached out to Gary Ward, the legendary Oklahoma State baseball coach from 1978-96.
Gajewski first reached out to Ward, who was particularly known for his hitting instruction, several years ago in hopes of getting the coach to visit the Cowgirls’ practices. But Ward was busy caring for his wife, Kathy, who was ill.
Kathy passed away in December 2022. Last year, Gajewski reached out again, and Ward occasionally began stopping in to watch the Cowgirls in the batting cage. This year, Ward’s appearances have been even more regular.
“We’re watching and he’s talking to me about things that he sees,” Gajewski said. “He knows every one of our kids. It’s crazy. He knows the way their swings work, and it’s really kinda cool. It tells me he’s watching every time we’re playing, which just amazes me.
“He loves this game. He loves our kids and he loves the bat and ball. It’s neat to have him around here.”
Perhaps some of Ward’s wisdom is sinking in lately for OSU, which open play at the Big 12 Tournament this week. The fourth-seeded Cowgirls take on No. 5 Arizona State at 11 a.m. Thursday at Devon Park.
OSU’s offense has been on the uptick over the last month of the season, a much-needed improvement after the inconsistencies the team showed through late February and March.
“He’s a legend,” OSU second baseman Rosie Davis said. “I think he gives a lot of good, different perspectives.”
Added shortstop Megan Bloodworth: “He’s not here every day, so he’s like an outside voice. I think he sees things that the coaches who are with us every day might not see. And I think he gives us a little bit of confidence.”
Ward will show up when he can, and watch the players in the batting cage. Maybe he’ll offer them some hitting advice, maybe he’ll talk to them about something other than softball.
Whichever it is, his presence has been valuable for Gajewski, the assistant coaches and the players.
“I’ve been asking Coach Ward to come around for many years,” Gajewski said. “He’s taken care of his wife, Kathy, almost my whole time here while she was sick. He told me, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be around as much as I can, but I have to take care of her. She’s taken care of me and this family forever.’
“And I was like, ‘Gosh, that is a man.’ He’s slowly starting to come around more.”
Though baseball and softball swings aren’t exactly identical, the concepts are quite similar, and Ward’s knowledge translates well.
“I love having him around. He’s just so wise,” first baseman Karli Godwin said. “You learn so much. He doesn’t even hardly talk about ball, honestly. We talk about life lessons that do translate on the field.
“I talk to him about my swing and my mentality in the box, and he has given me a lot of confidence and allowed me to take a step back and get some new perspectives. He’s been great to have around.”
But Ward’s presence isn’t just for the hitters. It benefits Gajewski in managing his program. It provides another sounding board for hitting coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher. And it adds a perspective that comes from a place of wisdom.
“He’s a calm soul,” Gajewski said of the 84-year-old Ward. “I don’t know what he was like to play for. I don’t think that may have been what it was like. But now in this part of his life, he’s just sitting back there and everything that’s in that brain, it’s wild. I hope I’m half as sharp as he is at that age.
“People might think I have him here for our players, but I have him here as much for me as anybody. He just has a way about him that I really enjoy. I want Coach Shippy to have resources that she can utilize.
“He’s starting to have a connection. He knows our girls by first name. I think he’s got meticulous notes on all of them when he sees them play, on things that he sees. I think it’s a unique perspective.”
