Brad Hamilton has success coaching second go-round for Pennsylvania
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Seeing his hard-working players capture a Mid-Atlantic Region championship and reach the Little League World Series provided Newtown, Pennsylvania manager Brad Hamilton an incredible thrill.
Just when the Council Rock Newtown Little League manager thought he could not be any happier, his oldest son, 16-year-old Jude held a phone to his ear.
There, he heard his former Little League players from Jude’s teams joyfully congratulating him. Hamilton’s coaching journey has come full circle and the excitement both have provided him is of immeasurable value.
"I caught those (former players) my OGs because they taught me so much of what to do and what not to do as a coach and they did something magical things as well," Hamilton said. "One of them said to these (current) guys that, ‘We walk, so you guys can run,’ which I love. That’s a great way to explain it."
Hamilton began coaching Jude’s group when they started playing Little League. When that run ended, he went back to the start, working with this current group, including his son Dean. And what a way to end this second coaching go-round.
Newtown reached the Little League World Series for the first time since 2005 and just the second time in its 71-year history. Even more impressive, the Mid-Atlantic champions did so while going 18-0, piling up more wins than any American team entering the Series.
"Brad took his older son all the way through and took the learnings he gathered from that run and then took another group through it again and has done an amazing job both times," Council Rock Newtown Little League president Andrew Palsky said. "He hit reset after Jude went through and has helped this team keep pushing forward."
Jude’s group also was successful and helped lay the foundation for the 2024 squad. As 11-year-olds in 2019 those Newtown players captured a district championship in thrilling fashion. Not only did they avenge an earlier defeat and beat that opponent twice in the final, it won the title after trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the sixth.
Unfortunately, that team never had a shot at reaching the Series after COVID canceled its 12U season in 2020. Still, that was a team which showed the current one what hard work, determination and unselfishness can do.
It also opened Hamilton’s eyes. In some ways it was like a trial run. A lot of what Hamilton and his staff did worked, some things did not. The second time around, it was a matter of highlighting the positives and correcting some previous mistakes.
A strong first run led to an amazing second act. And in that way, both groups are now connected.
"You find the things that are going to make us a little better, like culture, loyalty to the team and Brad Hamilton has been able to establish that with his teams and keep helping them get better," Palsky said. "They have a great culture on the team and that’s a testament to Brad and the coaches."
Hamilton knows the game well as do his fellow coaches Doug Peiffer and Kyle Neeld. Just as important, they have become role models for the young players and are able to stay calm no matter the situation.
That has helped Newtown become a force the last three years. After taking third in the state as 10-year-olds and second at 11, Newtown put everything together this season, conquering a loaded state field and making its last run its most memorable run.
Each player has his fingerprints upon this team’s success. All practiced, prepared and played hard. They also ensured that the final chapter in Hamilton’s second Little League coaching experience would be his best one yet.
"It is why you coach youth sports, seeing the reactions of these 13 boys," Hamilton said. "It makes all the hard work worth it. It makes all the hard work the families and coaches put into it."
Hamilton is a baseball lifer. Before coaching he played at the Little League, high school and college levels. The games were fun, but it’s all the other stuff which many often remember more than the at-bats, pitches and plays.
It’s no different with Hamilton. What he hopes now is that history will repeat itself with his team. He already has received validation that it is the case with his first group.
"It’s all about those relationships we have now. Baseball is an important part of my life and I have so many friends from Little League, high school and college who I played with and against that I’m friends with," Hamilton said. "I want to create that for both my boys and players. It’s about giving kids chances to expand their horizons whether that’s spots, or playing the piano or dancing. They can come away with lifetime memories from this whether you make the Little League World Series or lost in districts and that’s what makes it special."
Hamilton has coached two special groups. Nobody knows how far the first would have gone if not for the pandemic but it still supplied him with treasured memories.
Obviously, so has his second team. He again has watched a team go from first learning how to play the game to being an elite team. What a ride it has been--again.
"I think about my own baseball life and it’s all the things outside baseball that you really remember. As kids, that’s what it’s all about," Hamilton said. "They’re together watching horror movies and playing cards. That’s their jam and it’s good to see them build those memories that are about more than baseball. Go out and compete hard but understand that the experiences you’re enjoying are ones you will always remember."