The Dutchtown Griffins have started their 2021 baseball season 8-2. The Griffins latest win coming at Griffin Field over Shaw, 7-1. Thursday is the first day of the three-day Jay Patterson Shootout. Along with Dutchtown, other host schools are East Ascension, St. Amant and Zachary. A schedule of games, times and locations can be found at the bottom of this article.
Dutchtown’s win over Shaw gave Griffin Coach, Chris Schexnaydre, his 300th win tonight. “Coach Shake” as he is known by most, became head baseball coach at Dutchtown in 2008. For all who know Coach Shake, the fact that he says “I have been really blessed to have great coaches and great players. I am just a small part of the big picture” should not surprise you. Coach Shake added “I just want to keep the field nice, keep the concession stand stocked and be in charge of the fundraising.”
Shake does all of the above well but don’t be fooled, you can tell the quality of a coach by how hard his players play for him. Current Griffin players as well as former players respect Coach Shake way beyond the baseball field. This is noticeable during any game or practice as Coach Shake’s former players are always eager to do whatever they can do to help their former coach.
Make no mistake, Coach Shake “gets it.” His first coaching priority is his players and every dime that is raised goes directly back to his players and back into the baseball program. Coach Shake is always looking for ways to improve his facilities which in turn gives his players an opportunity to improve on their game. But with everything being said, Coach Shake insists “In order to be successful, a key ingredient is great parents, especially in this day and time. I think a lot of time, this is overlooked.” Earlier I spoke of former players always eager to help, the same can be said for the Dutchtown baseball parents. From building batting cages, to cooking for opposing teams, to running the concession stands and to putting up signs on the outfield wall, Coach Shake cannot thank his parents enough for their help. Coach also knows a lot of things he can do would not be possible without the help of the Dutchtown baseball parents.
Asking Coach Shake who he would point to as his mentor, he speaks of his high school coach at St. Amant, Brian Moreau. “I wasn’t a great athlete in high school, but I would say I was probably a great leader and with Coach Moreau’s guidance, I always knew I wanted to be a baseball coach.”
The Griffins face undefeated Jesuit at Dutchtown, Friday at 6:30 pm; Saturday, same location, Dutchtown will play Rummel at 10 am and the West Monroe Rebels at 5:30 pm. See the rest of the schedule below.
