Henderson Flash

Baseball is a game of situations: bottom of the ninth, bases loaded. One pitch to go on a perfect game.  We relish in the moment.

Henderson will soon have its chance to experience its own moments with the Henderson Flash.  In June and July Henderson will be host to the flash for its inaugural year in the Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Wooden Bat League. Cubb Stokes, the president of the Ohio Valley League is very proud to add the eighth team: the Henderson Flash. “It’s our mission to keep growing and developing collegiate athletes in pursuit of their dreams to become professional baseball players.” Henderson has been on Ohio Valley League’s radar for a while. Not only for its proximity but also for its history.

In the 1900’s, Henderson had a baseball team in the old Kitty League. The Kitty League was short for the K-I-T League, or Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee League, a Class D level of professional baseball. That K-I-T eventually disbanded, thus creating the Ohio Valley League. Additionally, “Flash” may sound familiar to many readers, in a different context, as the City High Flash. A bygone era of Henderson when it had multiple high schools. To further tie in some historical context, the all-star-game (Henderson Flash will be in the Eastern Division of the Ohio Valley League) will be held at League Stadium in Huntingburg, Indiana on July 9 where part of A League of Their Own was filmed. All these facts highlight the Flash’s desire to become a part of the community by not only bridging the past to the present but looking forward to the future.

Still, a lot of pieces had to come together for Clay Bolin, the owner and president of the Henderson Flash to get the team ready for this summer season. One of the first pieces of the puzzle was to find a manager. When he began the nationwide search for a manager, one name immediately stood out from the rest: J. D. Arndt, current coach at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. “I needed to make sure I hit a home run,” says Bolin. “When I saw Arndt’s resume, his experience level was twenty-five years coaching in both college and professional baseball in semi-pro ball were unbelievable. I talked to a couple of references, two professional major league scouts and assistant coach at Kentucky, and they told me I’d be an ‘idiot’ if I didn’t hire him.” Bolin laughs, “It was a no-brainer, I had an opportunity to bring in a guy who has been in the game for a long time and that had a lot of success.” It certainly helps that they get along so well. Because after Arndt there’s still many more pieces to put together.

Players are recruited from across the country and must be enrolled in college. All are NCAA-caliber players who use this opportunity as a “masterclass” in baseball. Over two months, they play forty games including an all-star game and the playoffs. Players from the Ohio Valley League and other wooden bat leagues have furthered their careers on minor and major league teams. Arndt said that coaching is about “strengthening the abilities of the players.” He wants to get to know the players and help them grow into better baseball players. For him, it’s about the fundamentals and the intensive nature of the Wooden Bat League that gets him excited.  Plus, there’s the opportunity of building a team from the beginning.

For many players, this is their first time with a wooden bat. The wooden bat changes the game by narrowing the sweet spot on the bat. Baseball is such a skill sport anyway, but fans will see a lot of fundamentals. There will be stealing and bunting and lots of “small ball,” (a strategy placing runners on bases and advancing them into scoring position for a run.)

An interesting and unique aspect of the Wooden Bat League is host families. Over the two months in their “summer home,” families from the area offer their homes for the players to stay. It’s a great opportunity to form lasting relationships. Even Arndt, while coaching in the minor and major leagues, had host families that he says he still communicates with to this day. It’s a unique opportunity to form life-long bonds and further instills the players into the community.

Other teams in the Ohio Valley League have brought in a large number of spectators and fans to the stadiums. Henderson Flash promises it will be an event you won’t want to miss. Not only are you watching high-quality baseball from potential professional players, but the whole night will be entertaining. Bolin is already planning several promotional nights including one for PCMA (youth recreational baseball league) players and a Henderson City High Reunion night. At the reunion night, players will wear throwback jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit a scholarship program.

If you’ve been to a minor or major league game, you’ll notice all the things happening between innings. Children may be invited onto the field, free giveaways for fans, and other exciting events. In the end, why wouldn’t you want to grab a hot dog on a cool summer night to watch some high-quality baseball and have a family-friendly outing in your community?

If you cannot make it to the games at B. T. Wayne Field at Henderson County High School, tune into WSON on 860 AM, 96.5 FM, and wsonradio.com. The first (away) game on June 1 in Dubois County will be broadcasted on the air. Also, WSON will broadcast each home game.

Fore information about Henderson Flash, visit hendersonflash.com