Bishop Ward High School
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Bishop Ward baseball has seen much success in the last 10 years under the leadership of Head Coach Dennis Hurla: the team has won seven regional championship titles, six state championship titles and smashed four state records since 2004.
Last Thursday, the preseason baseball poll conducted by the coaches in Kansas Class 4ADII had the Bishop Ward Cyclones ranked #1 in the state.
With the start of the season quickly approaching, Coach Hurla and Bishop Ward announce and welcome new talent to the 2014 baseball team: coaches Chance Brull, Bill Grosdidier ’77, Ralph Anthony Sanchez ’01 and Michael Golubski ’12.
Coach Chance Brull attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School and then successfully became a 4-year Doane College letter winner and NAIA All-American pitcher. He represented the United States of America in the Goodwill Series played in Australia, where the USA team competed against the Chinese national team and the Australian semi-professional team. Chance will assist in pitching and coaching JV games.
Coach Bill Grosdidier attended Bishop Ward High School and graduated in 1977. He played on the 1977 5A-6A Bishop Ward team and pitched a shutout state tournament game against the #1 ranked Wichita Southeast team. He earned a baseball scholarship to Benedictine College where he played for 4 years as a pitcher. Then in 1983, he signed a contract to play baseball for the Atlanta Braves organization from 1983-1986, reaching AA level. Grosdidier will assist in pitching and coaching Varsity games.
Coach Ralph Anthony Sanchez is a 2001 Bishop Ward High School graduate and lifelong resident of Kansas City, Kan. He was the starting second baseman of the 2001 Bishop Ward baseball team that placed 3rd at state. Sanchez will coach infielders and JV games.
Coach Michael Golubski graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 2012. He was the starting 3rd baseman of the 2010 Bishop Ward State Championship team. Golubski will coach outfielders and JV games.
Returning this year is Assistant Coach Bryan Beggs, a 2002 Bishop Ward graduate. He was the starting catcher for the 2001 and 2002 Bishop Ward baseball teams and 4-year member of Benedictine College baseball. This will be his 7th year as a Bishop Ward coach. Beggs will coach hitters and Varsity games.
“I believe in adding these new coaches that we are giving the baseball program a great opportunity to succeed,” Head Coach Dennis Hurla said. “I am looking forward to working with them and the players in the 2014 season.”
Head Coach Dennis Hurla is the 9th head baseball coach of the Bishop Ward baseball program that began in 1949. Coach Hurla enters his 18th season with an overall record of 315-101, nine state titles, three state runner-ups, one 3rd place finish, one 4th place finish, 14 regional championships and 13 league championships.
Bishop Ward will play their first game of the season against Lansing High School on Wednesday, March 26 at the Bishop Ward baseball stadium at 14th & Barnett in Kansas City, Kan. (original date of Tuesday, March 25 rescheduled due to inclement weather). Games times remain the same: JV at 3:00 p.m. and Varsity at 5:00 p.m. Find the full schedule at www.wardhigh.org/athletics.
