McKee returns to take over Southern Wayne baseball program

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 22, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- The faces, for the most part, will remain the same inside the Southern Wayne baseball dugout next spring.

And a familiar face is returning after a three-year absence.

Trae McKee is coming back for his second stint as the Saints' head coach. He accepted the position last week -- nearly a month after Jackson Massey departed to take over the varsity baseball program at North Lenoir.

McKee expected to coach again.

"I didn't know exactly the time frame when God wanted me to go back -- either back to Southern Wayne or back to being a head coach (somewhere else)," McKee said. "I've been praying about this all summer on where God wanted me to go, and he opened this door.

"I kind of felt a peace about when it all happened."

McKee met with SW principal Dr. John Boldt, athletics director and good friend David Lee, members of the community and some members of the team.

Boldt considered it an easy hire.

The decision pleased Lee who wanted to find a quality coach who would "do a good job and carry on that tradition."

McKee succeeded legendary head coach Doyle Whitfield and compiled a 176-136 during a 12-season tenure that ended in 2013. He coached more than 20 players who continued their respective careers at the collegiate level.

The Saints shared the 2006 Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season title. Six years later, McKee's club won the 2012 ECC tournament crown.

"When I left before it was moreso that I needed to be home with the boys," said McKee of his 9-year-old twins Tyler and Brayden, and 6-year-old Mason.

"Now, they're at the age they've been hanging around the ballpark."

The Southern Wayne baseball complex has undergone some cosmetic changes.

McKee is a different person, too.

His main goal as the dugout general remains the same. As he did before, McKee plans to build productive relationships with the players, teach them not only how to respect and play the greatest show on dirt, but understand the importance of being a good teammate.

"A lot of the guys that I started with are starting to get married now and start their own families," McKee said. "You go to their weddings and they tell you how much they enjoyed playing for you, and how much you meant to them. I really miss that part of it the most ... seeing them grow not only as players, but as people, too."

Southern Wayne finished 7-15 overall last season and played nine games decided by two runs or less. Seven players, according to the current roster, are projected to return next season.

Two Saints, rising juniors Lance Wise and Jack Casbarro, gained valuable playing experience on the Wayne County Post 11 Senior Legion baseball team this summer. Post 11 made its third consecutive appearance in the Area I East Division championship series.

McKee praised the job Massey did as head coach.

"I didn't want to leave it in anybody's hands who didn't really want to go to work," McKee said. "He did a lot with the facilities. He did a lot with the kids. Jackson is a hard worker and he put a lot of time into it.

"Of course, I missed the competition. From top to bottom, it's one of the strongest 3-A/4-A split conferences in the state. Every Tuesday and Friday night, you're going to play somebody that could easily be an eastern finalist."

Maybe it's the Saints' turn.