Jerry Stoots has been a part of more victory celebrations than any other high school baseball coach in South Carolina history. Along the way, he’s racked up hundreds of memories and various awards.
His trophy case will have to make room for one more plaque this month. The Lowcountry coaching legend added another career achievement to his resume, earning a selection to the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I never gave (career awards) any thought,” Stoots said. “I just looked forward to the next year after the season was over. I enjoyed all the seasons. I have had the good fortune to work with a lot of great assistants and had a lot of good kids too.”
Joining Stoots in the 2018 class are longtime youth umpire Lewis Elmore “Lukey” Dudley and former Citadel baseball standout and Mount Pleasant mayor Dick Jones.
The trio will be recognized before the Charleston RiverDogs’ 6:05 p.m. game against Greenville on July 28 at Riley Park.
A devout Christian, Stoots believes he’s simply been doing what he was led to do. His journey began around a half century ago and is still going through two short-lived retirements.
“People ask why you keep on doing what you’re doing but it’s what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing,” Stoots said. “I turned myself over to somebody bigger than me a lot of years ago. I believe doors just opened and I was invited to come in.”
He’s spent 45 seasons in the dugout, with stops at Stall High School, Northwood Academy, St. John’s Christian Academy and Oceanside Collegiate and has 892 career victories.
He first retired after winning almost 600 games, 15 region championships and one state title in 31 seasons at Stall. The Warriors played in two other state finals.
Two years away from the game, Stoots returned to the diamond to lead Northwood Academy and guided the Chargers for 11 seasons, engineering five straight trips to the state championship series, winning 261 games in all.
Again he retired. Again it lasted two years.
Then-St. John’s Christian athletics director Steve Guerry asked Stoots to head up the Cavaliers’ program and Stoots spent one season in Moncks Corner.
When a door opened to start a program from scratch at Oceanside Collegiate, Stoots jumped at the opportunity. The Sharks have been successful despite having no senior classes to this point.
A group of freshmen and sophomores went 17-5 in 2017 and the Sharks were 16-7 as sophomores and juniors in 2018.
“All we’ve ever asked our kids to do is go out and compete,” Stoots said. “That’s all you can ask for.”
As far as assistant coaches, Stoots thanked a slew of current and former helpers, a group that includes his son Brandon, now a varsity assistant at Oceanside.
Admitting he probably forgot somebody, Stoots also praised current assistants Mike Wilkins, Richie McCullough, Christian Powell, Andrew Howard and Geoff Dulaney and former assistants Mike Branham, Steve Walker, Kenny Wilkinson, Jamie Rabon and Troy Bennage for their contributions.
“You learn something different everywhere you go,” Stoots said. “It’s like a different chapter.”
The Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame is coordinated and operated by the Charleston RiverDogs. An advisory committee consisting of knowledgeable local volunteers was created to come up with the names as potential nominees.
Stoots will have his name inscribed on the Hall of Fame list located on the main concourse at Riley Park.
