🏆 14/15U Coach of the Year – Sheldon Ehli 🏆
Team:
RiteScreen
Years of Experience Coaching Baseball:
7 Years
About Coach Ehli:
Sheldon Ehli and his wife, Kelly, have three children: Alex (16), Will (14), and Olivia (11). All three have participated in youth baseball through FYB. This year, Sheldon coached Will's 14/15U team with invaluable support from James Pfeifer and AJ Myer. Sheldon has been involved with FYB as a coach for about 7 years.
Coaching Philosophy and Evolution:
Sheldon's coaching philosophy has evolved over the years. When coaching younger players (8U), the focus is on keeping them engaged, ensuring they have fun, and playing a structured game. As players grow older, the expectations shift toward improvement each season and setting higher standards. Sheldon emphasizes that there’s a strong connection between competitive play and having fun. While winning isn’t always the primary goal, approaching the game with the intention to win is key to enjoying it. He also teaches players to stay focused on the field, understand the game situation, and be mentally prepared for each play. He acknowledges the challenges of hitting and encourages players to maintain confidence, even during slumps.
Strategies for Keeping Players Motivated:
Sheldon keeps players motivated by rotating positions and changing the batting order, which keeps the lineup fresh and creates new dynamics that can lead to unexpected positive results.
Biggest Influences as a Coach:
Over the years, Sheldon has coached alongside many dedicated volunteers. This season, AJ Myer and James Pfeifer were instrumental in the success of the RiteScreen team. Sheldon continuously learns new drills, game management techniques, and strategies from his fellow coaches, which have helped him become a better coach.
Most Memorable Coaching Moment:
One memorable moment in Sheldon’s coaching career occurred during the 13U season. After practicing a 4-6-3 double play extensively, the players executed it perfectly in a game, showcasing their hard work and teamwork.
Honorable Mentions (14/15U):
Jared Purdy (14U Fargo 61’s Blue), Jesse Barnacle (14U Fargo 61’s Blue), Eric Grande (14U Fargo 61’s Blue)
Schedule of Announcements:
- 5/6U - Joey & Leslie Dawson (Dawson Contracting LLC)
- 7U - Ryan Birney (Fit Body)
- 8U - Kyle Argall (Men's Hair Co)
- 9U – Jordan Pederson (Bobcat)
- 10U – Chris Ahlers (Fargo 61’s Red)
- 11U - No Nominations
- 12U – Chase Frize (SpartanNash & Fargo White)
- 13U – Wade Sandy (Wolf Steel)
- 14/15U – Sheldon Ehli (RiteScreen)
- Program Coaching Staff of the Year - Monday, September 9