Last week’s announcement from the Havre Youth Baseball Association (HYBA) shook up the landscape for the leadership on the field for next season and beyond. After the resignation of field manager Patch Wirtzberger and assistant Jake Eldridge, the organization began a coaching search immediately.
New Media Broadcasters caught up with both Wirtzberger and Eldridge and each described what went into the decision to step down and let a new coaching staff lead.
“I need to be at home a little bit more and spending more time with my family and my kids,” Wirtzberger said. “A lot has changed since I took this job seven years ago. My family has grown.”
“It became very clear to me throughout (this) summer that it was time to start spending time with my family,” Wirtzberger continued.
“To be part of an organization with such good people involved, thinking about yourself and doing things with your family and what not that you haven’t been able to do for the last (few) years, it was a tough decision to step away from the program and all the kids and coaches and people that are involved with it,” Eldridge said. “It was a great six years. (I’m) just really lucky to be able to be part of that coaching staff.”
“(It’s) time for me be able to spend some more time with my family,” Eldridge continued. “I get a chance to go watch my son play college baseball. For me, it was the right time to get out.”
For Wirtzberger, he’s been a lifer in the Northstars organization. He played for his hometown team during summers away from Havre High School. After completing his education at MSU-Billings, he found his way back to Havre and was able to join his childhood team, guiding them for seven seasons, including six as the head coach. Wirtzberger summarized what it meant to wear the Northstars uniform for so many years and what he wants his impact and legacy to be.
“The program gave me so much when I was growing up,” Wirtzberger said. “It was an honor to be able to give a little bit back to the kids who were there for that time and help these kids have the opportunities that I had when I was their age.”
“To be able to interact with them every day and watch them grow is something I’ll miss dearly,” Wirtzberger continued. “But I can rest my hat on that I am very proud of what we achieved and that we put in a lot of work and that the program is in a really good spot now.”
The full conversation with coach Wirtzberger is available in the sports podcast tab of HiLineToday.com.
