Looking to build on back-to-back playoff appearances, the baseball program has appointed former professional player Vic Radcliff as its new head coach.
Radcliff was drafted out of high school by the Kansas City Royals, where he spent seven years in the minor leagues. He later returned to school at Michigan State University to earn his degree in education while working as an assistant coach at Capital University, a Division lll program in Ohio. He eventually moved to the Atlanta area, where he now teaches and has coached youth baseball for the past 11 years. Radcliff said his previous experiences have shaped him into the coach he is today.
“When I played, I was not only taught how to be a better player myself, but I also learned how to be a good coach,” Radcliff said. “A lot of the things I’ve learned, I implement even today as a coach, which I will continue to do at Midtown.”
Junior pitcher Charlie Frederick said early practices have allowed the team to get to know Radcliff and have allowed him to set the tone for the season.
“Having consistent practices with a focused team has shown us that this year we are going to be more committed and hopefully perform better to achieve our goals,” Frederick said.
Radcliff said creating an environment built on consistency and commitment is the first step toward long-term success.
“In order to be good at baseball, you have to have confidence in yourself, which is built through the hours and hours you put into getting reps,” Radcliff said. “If these kids can grasp the idea that their hard work will help in building this self confidence, then they can expect success, as a result.”
With the coaching change from prior coach Jordan Tarver to now Radcliff, junior pitcher Charlie Frederick said upperclassmen have taken on a larger leadership role.
“For me, leadership means making sure players are focused during practice and held accountable,” Frederick said. “I’m helping underclassmen and returning varsity players by encouraging them and teaching them during practice.”
Senior captain Lyndon Williams agreed, adding that his role is about setting standards for younger players to follow.
“Leading by example has been one of the main things for me,” Williams said. “When I lead by example and set a good example of working hard, most others will follow.”
Radcliff also noted that strong team chemistry will be essential in the Knights’ success this season.
“I want to develop a brotherhood,” Radcliff said. “I want these kids to feel more like a family because when you love the people around you, you’ll give extra of yourself to see other people be successful.”
Sophomore outfielder Alec Sevigny said Radcliff’s emphasis on dedication and effort has already helped set clear expectations for the team.
“We don’t have the best culture at this program,” Sevigny said. “The best way to turn it around is for everyone to buy in with their work ethic.”
Frederick said the team will continue to bond both in and outside of practice, claiming those efforts will help them build stronger cohesion.
“We always like to do team bonding things that help us build that sense of being a team more,” Frederick said. “With the conditioning already, it has been helpful for us in getting to connect so early on.”
Last year the Knights finished third in Region 4-AAAA with a 10-4 record. Radcliff said he hopes to surpass that this season, with the goal of the team winning the region.
“Immediate success would be winning the region championship,” Radcliff said. “If we can establish a really good competitive attitude throughout the course of the year, we can expect good things like that to happen.”
The Knights opened their season with a ______ win/loss on Feb. 10 paper will be out by then and this will need an update in a non-region game against Northgate. In the 2024-25 season, Northgate finished with a region record of ____ and an overall record of _____. They advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to Pope 2-0. Frederick said beginning the season with a competitive matchup provided helpful insight for the team. What type of team was Northgate last year, recordwise, playoffs, etc?
“The first game is always very useful for us,” Frederick said. “We come away with things we did well, and obviously, things that can be improved.”
As the season progresses, Radcliff said he hopes to not only bond with the players, but to also earn their trust that hard work will lead to success.
“Our guys can expect that their coach is going to give them 100% effort every day,” Radcliff said. “I expect them to give it back in return, and with that, we are going to see a great product of baseball, not just on the field, but in our community too.”
