Just ask Dorothy. As that famed character from the movie classic “The Wizard of Oz,” the film ends with Dorothy saying, “There’s no place like home.”
That definitely has become reality for Vian native and former Dewar coach Graylen Fletcher. The Vian High School graduate was hired earlier this month to become the new Central Tigers baseball coach to make it a homecoming of sorts.
“It was a big factor,” Fletcher said about taking the job. “I get to move close to home and family. My brother (Draighton) is going to be a senior next (school) year (at Vian High School). Getting closer to home and family allows me the opportunity to not only be at a good program, a good school and being around good athletes and a good administration, it will allow me to spend some time with my family, and get a chance to watch him (Draighton) play and be there to support him for his senior year as well.”
However, the return home was not the only thing that piqued Fletcher’s interest in the Central baseball coaching job.
“I was kind of excited,” said Fletcher, who has been part of the coaching staff of the Lady Dragons fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball teams. “They have a young group of kids. I’m excited to get the opportunity to step in and be their coach and get going. They had a great season this year, being a game away from going to the (Class 2A-II) State Tournament and made the state tournament last year, so I’m kind of excited to continue the tradition they have here. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
The Lady Dragons enjoyed 37-5 fast-pitch softball season last fall, which included making the Class A State Tournament where they lost 10-4 to the Red Oak Eagles in the state quarterfinals, and had a 30-5 slow-pitch softball season, also which saw them make the Class 3A State Tournament where they fell 6-1 to Arapaho- Butler in the state quarterfinals. Fletcher is hoping to bring the things that made the Lady Dragons successful on the softball diamond to the Tigers on the baseball diamond.
“Getting to be there and to coach under some good coaches there, and just getting that (winning) atmosphere, getting to learn what that tradition is and what it takes to be that quality of a sports program is really exciting,” he said. “I’m excited to get to carry some of the stuff I learned there and bring it here, and introduce some new stuff here at Central.”
The main goal Fletcher has is making the Tigers not only successful in baseball but in life also.
“It’s all fun and games and to win baseball games, but the important thing for me is I want to look at the big picture,” Fletcher said.
“I want to set these kids up for success not only in baseball, but in life. I want to help give them the characteristics and set them up for the future, not only just baseball.”
