Deer Isle-Stonington baseball coach
Scott Oliver has his game face on before a home game. By Monique Labbe
Deer Isle—The Deer Isle-Stonington High School baseball team is under new direction this year, as Scott Oliver has taken over for longtime coach Randy Shepard.
This is Oliver’s first stint as a varsity level head coach, and he said it has taken him some time to adjust to the role.
“When I came in I wanted to be a stern coach and run the team like I would run my crew on the fishing boat,” said Oliver. “I realized pretty fast that I couldn’t do that, that they’re still just kids, so I’m learning how to be a leader for them.”
Oliver said that his coaching style is evolving every day, and that he wants his team to have fun on the field, but also work hard and dedicate themselves to the program.
Oliver has been a coach in other capacities, coaching his son Mason in both basketball and baseball during his years coming up in the youth leagues. With the exception of a handful of players, Oliver has been involved in most of his players’ athletic journeys over the past decade.
“It’s been really cool; some of these kids would stand in the box and say they’d never get a hit back in the Sluggers league, and now they’re out there cranking it,” said Oliver. “It’s been pretty fun to watch.”
Oliver’s experience with baseball goes beyond coaching, as he played four years in a Mariner uniform as an outfielder and designated hitter during his high school years. Being able to stay with the program all these years later is a great experience, he said.
With the new position comes new challenges, though, as coaching a sport during the spring season can be frustrating if the weather is uncooperative.
“It’s been tough, because we don’t have a very deep pitching staff, so when games get canceled and rescheduled you have to really think about who is going to be on the mound, what their pitch count is going to be before you pull them,” said Oliver. “The weather can really get you.”
While his team is still looking for its first win, Oliver said he is having fun regardless.
“I have a great group of guys, and I’m just enjoying being a part of it this season,” he said.