WEST FORK — Family is important to Tony Sagely, and that’s a big reason why he requested to step down as the West Fork baseball coach and take the job as assistant softball coach in 2011.
Sagely wanted the chance to be around his daughter, Sara, who was entering her senior year of high school. He took over the coaching reins the next season and this year guided the Lady Tigers to a 3A-1 West Conference title and their first state tournament berth since 2001, improving from three wins to 13 in the process.
Profile
Tony Sagely
SCHOOL: West Fork
NOTABLE: Engineered a big turnaround this past season for the Lady Tigers, going from 3-14 in his first season to 13-8, claimed a 3A-1 West Conference title and a state tournament berth this year. … Served as an assistant softball coach in 2011 … Served as West Fork’s baseball coach for 10 years, beginning in 2000.
Sagely has been named All-NWA Media Softball Coach of the Year for his efforts.
He acknowledged he asked to switch sports, so he could be around his daughter in 2011.
“Up until that year, I didn’t see her play maybe two or three games in high school,” Sagely said. “We were always playing baseball at the same time. I’d read about her in the paper.”
The change has worked well for the Sagely family.
Sara Sagely graduated two years ago, but his daughter, Spencer, just completed a banner first season as a freshman for the Lady Tigers.
“It feels like we’re closer as a family now that he does softball,” Spencer Sagely said. “It was normal for him not being home. But it’s good us being together more.”
It’s been good for the Lady Tigers, too.
The vast improvement in the win column has corresponded with a big jump in team batting average. West Fork finished this past season batting .359, an improvement of 125 points from a year ago.
The hitting aspect in softball is something that translates well from baseball, Sagely said.
“Hitting is something I think I can teach,” Sagely said.
Kari Waterson, who is a volunteer assistant with the Lady Tigers, agreed and credited Sagely with the team’s improved offense.
“I don’t think that the quality of our players has changed,” Waterson said. “He goes step by step with the girls, and he works with every girl specifically. He breaks everything down. Our base running has improved also.”
Sagely also doesn’t mind asking for some help either. He said Waterson, a former pitcher, has been a huge key to the team since his knowledge of pitching in softball was limited.
“That’s an area I struggle in, and a lot of times I’ll just look to Kari,” Sagely said. “She’s helped a lot, but I’m learning.”
Sagely hopes this season is a springboard to more success, using nearby Farmington as an example of what he wants the West Fork program to be in the future.
“That’s where I want to be,” Sagely said. “We want to have a chance to compete at the state level every year, not just one.”