A duo of new and familiar faces are taking over the head coaching positions within the North Platte Legion baseball program in 2021. The North Platte FNBO Nationals will kick off their season in mid-may and for the Seniors, it’ll be a fresh leader at the helm.
Ricky Holm will be the 15th coach since 1960 to lead North Platte, taking over for Andy Butler who coached the team to a 29-13 record. Holm, a Seattle Washington native, comes to North Platte with a long background in baseball. He played collegiate baseball at Bellevue University in Omaha from 2013 to 2014, then moving on to play semi-professional baseball in Australia. He has also coached at Bellevue before moving to North Platte.
Holm said he has been coaching the sport since he was 18.
“I was lucky enough growing up to have some really good coaches that instilled some good work ethic and really showed what was important in order to get to that next level,” said Holm.
Holm currently is a substitute teacher for North Platte Public Schools and moved to North Platte with his girlfriend around seven months ago. He said it doesn’t matter where you’re playing the sport, whether it be Australia, Omaha, Seattle or North Platte, it’s the same.
“It’s still a baseball. Still 60 feet six inches, still 90 feet to get down the base. It’s all about trying to imprint your type of style, you’re type of play.”
Tryouts were held last weekend for the Juniors and Seniors and will be again this coming Sunday, March 21st at Bill Wood Field starting at Noon. Anyone interested in joining the team is welcome to come try out.
“It’s kind of getting exciting. We’ve been in the D&N for four or five months and I’m kind of chomping at the bit to get out on the field so I can only imagine that the feeling is exacerbated by the players as well.”
Joining the Junior’s program to lead it is a familiar face in Ryan Jones. Jones currently is the Athletic Director at Maxwell and has coached football there for the past 12 years. He also is coaching the Maxwell-St Pat’s new baseball coop, which begins their season in April.
Jones has coached within the North Platte Legion program, as the Senior’s head coach from 1999-2001, then again from 2005-2008. He compiled 215 wins in those years for North Platte. He coached at year at McCook Community College as well.
The season will start May 16 for the Seniors against Cheyenne at home, with the Juniors opening their season at home against Columbus on May 22nd.
Huskeradio will again provide live radio coverage, along with live video stream when available, throughout the season. Games can be heard on KODY, 1240-AM/106.1-FM.
Listen to the full interview with both coaches below.
Ricky Holm:
Ryan Jones:
