The safe assumption would have been a modest start, maybe a few challenging years before building up toward a tradition and earning a huge dot on the state sports map.
Obviously, the Glendale High School Baseball Program tossed that script in the trash bin.
In 1967, only three seasons after their inaugural 1964 spring, the Falcons raged their way to the high school Final Four, losing to eventual state champion Ritenour and future big-leaguer Jerry Reuss in the semifinals. And that was after reaching back-to-back American Legion state championship games – with a state title in 1966.
Yes, the die was cast early as the Falcons became one of the state’s premier organizations, and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct the Glendale High School Baseball Program with the Class of 2019.
The honor is part of the Baseball & Softball Luncheon presented by the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, set for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
Glendale entered the 2019 season with 776 wins and has had only five head coaches in its history: Don Provance (1964-1992), Mark Stratton (1993-2005), Howard Bell (2006-2012), Mike Snodgrass (2013-2017) and Jim Julian (2018-current).
Along the way, the Falcons won Class 2 state championships in 1976 and 1978 and, overall, have made 12 state playoff appearances in addition to winning 15 conference championships. The program also has hundreds more victories in American Legion baseball, including a state championship in 1997.
And to think that it all started with a hope and a dream.
In fact, the first practice drew nearly 50 players on a patch of grass dotted with rocks. The next year saw pitchers Mark Worley and Ron Lemery fuel an 11-win season and a run toward the Legion title before they signed with Arizona State and the University of Missouri, respectively. Kerm Pyatt coached the Legion teams in the late 1960s.
“It was a very exciting time,” said Bill Helfrecht, a Glendale grad who was on the ’66 Legion team. “In those days, there were people you knew were going to be good players.”
Provance’s steady hand played a role, Helfrecht emphasized, saying, “By dong that, it got everybody’s potential out of them. And I don’t think anybody had any fights. We were all one unit.”
The ’66 Legion team set the stage for a fabulous 1967 spring, led by future big-league pitcher Steve Rogers (MSHOF 2014).
At the time, the crosstown rival Hillcrest High School Baseball Program (MSHOF 2014) and its coach, Dick Birmingham (MSHOF 2002), had dominated headlines and motivated Glendale.
The Falcons won their first of four consecutive Ozark Conference championships in 1975.
“My junior year (1974), we had some guys you knew were going to be really good – guys like (left-hander) Brad Simmons – and you’re like, ‘This is our chance,” Donny Provance said.
The 1976 state championship team finished 21-2 and, other than wearing ‘60s-era sleeveless jerseys and undershirts, featured this roster: Simmons and Jeff Boyd as pitchers and first basemen, catcher John Reed, second baseman Randy Marlan, shortstop Kevin Wassman, third baseman Glen Lyons, leftfielder Stade Stickland, center fielder Scot Spencer and DH Dave Prueter.
“That group was just talented all the way through,” Simmons said. “They could flat-out hit and play defense. But the infield would get mad at us (pitchers) because we struck out so many guys.”
Two years later, the 1978 team finished 20-4 and captured the state title with pitchers Dave Dickensheet and Billy Barnes. Future big-league catcher Mark Bailey (MSHOF 2017) was the second baseman, with the roster including catcher Tommy Meyers, first baseman Rod Bingaman, shortstop Jim Lumpe, third baseman Steve Hunter (MSHOF 2019), outfielders Jim Wachtman, Greg Frederick and Doug Provance.
“It was a tight team. We all grew up playing baseball together and some of us were close friends as well,” Lumpe said. “Just had a lot of confidence that we could beat anybody.”
Continuity in coaching staffs played a major role. Provance (MSHOF 2019) won 340 games, while Stratton (MSHOF 2017) led the Falcons to 244 wins, Bell (MSHOF 2018) compiled 87 victories and Snodgrass had 84 wins before Julian’s first team won 21 games.
Glendale won other conference championships in 1985, 1989, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The 1997 Legion team won a state title.
“Glendale High School is, in and of itself, an achievement school,” Stratton said, noting the campus’ success in academics and extra-curricular activities, plus parental support. “I always tell people that achievement never goes out of style. The kids just think they are going to win.”
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Baseball & Softball Luncheon presented by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company
When: 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22
Where: University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield
Inductees: St. Louis Cardinals slugger Brian Jordan, the late Joe Medwick, an outfielder during the Cardinals’ Gas House Gang of the 1930s and an inductee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame; Missouri State pitcher Cindy Henderson Snead, late Glendale High School baseball coach Don Provance as well as the Glendale High School Baseball Program and the Webb City High School Softball Program.
Diamond 9 Award recipients: Nick Admire (Lebanon High School/University of Missouri), Charissa Fuhr (Kickapoo High School/Iowa State University), Hailee Hendricks Fury (Miller High School/Northwest Missouri State University), the Hughes Brothers of Branson High School — Colby Hughes (Meremac Community College/Missouri-St. Louis/Colorado Rockies), Logan Hughes (North Arkansas College/Missouri-St. Louis); Trent Oxenreider (Strafford High School/College of the Ozarks), Joey Rich (A.S.A./USA Softball), Brad Roweton (Bolivar High School/Southwest Baptist University), Jakki Prater Schneider(Nixa High School/University of Central Missouri) and Jim Smith(Collins High School/Missouri State University/New York Yankees).
Tables & Tickets: A sponsorship table of eight is $400 and includes recognition in the printed program as well as a poster autographed by individual inductees. A head table ticket is $100 while an individual ticket is $40 in advance, or $50 at the door. Numerous sponsorships also are available, including congratulatory ads.
Call: 417-889-3100
