Wood gets elusive win in final game as Oran baseball coach

O'FALLON, Mo. -- The coaching career of Mitch Wood came to an end on Wednesday.

It ended with his team winning its first state title, but it ended all the same.

Even so, Wood's first thoughts after the game were of what his last team might have started.

"I'm not as nervous as I thought I'd be to be honest with you," said Wood when asked if winning felt like he always thought it would. "A lot of people put a lot more into the first-place trophy than I do. I felt like we've had some great accomplishments and great things over the years. If anything, it kind of solidifies it and hopefully takes the nerves off for the rest of the careers for some of the other people coming up because I think it's just a good beginning of something. I think we've got many more to come."

Wood's outward reaction was reserved when the final out was recorded. He grinned before walking slowly up the stairs, onto the field and over to his assistant coaches, where he exchanged a half-handshake/half-hug with longtime assistant Larry Boshell.

Oran baseball coach Mitch Wood smiles as his players accept the championship trophy after the Eagles' 8-4 win over the Santa Fe Chiefs in the Class 1 championship game Wednesday, May 29, at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, Mo. It is the first state championship in school history. (Adam Vogler)

"Through my head, I was like 'I can't believe it,'" Wood said. "I went straight to my assistant coaches because they're a huge part of what we do. I'm just thankful we had a chance, an opportunity to do this.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't storybook for me. What else could a guy ask for when you get ready to quit. You wake up one morning and you're kind of ready to go on to something else, and then you win a state title, so what more could you ask for."

He said the feeling wasn't what he expected.

"I just thought I'd have a different feeling," Wood said. "I felt a lot of pressure the whole time, but I don't know once the game began today -- I don't know. I felt pretty good. I didn't really feel much different the first inning than I did the seventh inning. I'll be honest with you. I really felt relaxed, and I think the kids fed off that a little bit."

Wood's relaxation was never more clear than after his team's eight-run outburst in the fifth inning after trailing 4-0.

After the inning, he walked slowly back to the dugout from his third-base coaching position just like he always did, and said just, 'Good inning,' in the general direction of his players before clapping a couple times.

"I don't think there was once where I felt like I was pressing at all," Wood said.

Wood finished his 21-year career at Oran with a 440-134 record, 15 district titles, 10 trips to the final four and one state championship.

"I think it was a sigh of relief," senior Alex Heuring said about Wood's reaction following the game. "He's been here 10 times, and to finally get that state championship -- I've seen coach Wood smile a thousand times, but there was something different about this one. It was like a sigh of relief like finally, everything that we've been working for, it finally came through for him. It's the greatest feeling in the world."

Heuring and some of his teammates presented Wood with one of the fluorescent colored tank tops MSHSAA sold to promote the final four after the game. Without hesitation, Wood changed into the shirt and was the first to ask for a photo to be taken with the players, who had all bought shirts of their own.

Someone in the crowd suggested he add a tattoo to his arm in celebration.

"I've been wondering what I was going to do for a tattoo," said Wood, only jokingly accepting the idea.

It was an out-of-character moment for Wood, who said he often chides his players about showing up to practice in beachwear, but Wednesday was an out-of-character day.

"It means a lot," said senior Kody Moore of winning a state championship both with and for Wood. "He could be the best coach to ever come through Missouri high school. He's definitely one of the winningest, and he's got the reputation. Every time you hear LeBron and Michael Jordan being compared it's always, 'Well Michael has the championships.' Well, coach Wood has a championship now, so you can't throw that in the argument. I don't think there's no doubt about it, that he is the best coach who's ever come through Missouri."

The Oran fans chanted Wood's name for an extended period before the team was awarded medals.

"A big thank you," Wood said when asked what the gesture meant to him. "It's just a big thank you. In this game you go from goat to hero real quick, so it's one of those things in one inning -- it's a huge difference in how things are looked at. I have a lot of respect for everybody here and a lot of respect for our program. I think it shows a lot of pride in our community and our program."

Wood said he hadn't slept "in about three days" or since the day his team's rain-delayed state semifinal was originally supposed to be played.

"I know I'll sleep better tonight," he said. "I know I'll sleep better."