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Evansville coach honored

Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - A man who has spent pretty much his entire adult life teaching kids the fundamentals of baseball was honored Sunday at the East Youth Baseball fields in Evansville.  

Larry Collins has coached little-leaguers for over 42-years, and Sunday, about 60-former players, along with family and friends, came to thank the coach for his years of dedication.

Each player was introduced by their Collins-given nickname, something he's given to every one of his players over the years.

Collins, who is fighting a battle with cancer, was overwhelmed at the size of the crowd, and talked about what he's most proud of in his years as a coach and mentor.

"I guess I'm most proud of the fact, I can look back and see kids that have played," Collins said. "Their still playing, and they've got kids that are now playing. That's fun. That's fun."

"The sheer number of kids that he has worked with, and made them not only better baseball players, but better people," reunion organizer Scott Hopkins said.

"He kept it simple," former player Evan Rice said. "He said, 'you throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball.' You know, we're nine to 12 years old, and we need that. I think all his players absolutely enjoyed playing for him."

"The game of baseball, and working with kids day in, day out," Collins' son Rip Collins said. "That's what he was always about. That's what he enjoys, that's what he loves. It's a passion of his."

A dedication was made to Collins after all of his former players were introduced.

The little league field at the east side park will from now on be known as Larry Collins Field.

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