TBR Interview Andy Partin

I've have been requested to re-post this again for new members



Part 1

It is so nice to have Andy join us for an interview again. I didn't realize how long it has been. AP has become the most influential person in NC in regard to High School/Amateur baseball. The reputation that Impact Baseball, in particular, and the Dirtbag's baseball team have achieved has led to national acclaim. This has happened simply because a man had a vision and dedicated himself to realizing those dreams and the commitment it would take.

- What are your thoughts on where Impact Baseball started and where it is today?

First, before I get in to answering these questions and I want to tell all of the TBR viewers how lucky we are to have a resource like TBR. Guys like Tom, Rob and company do a wonderful job of providing information for parents and players. The guys at TBR do a marvelous job at keeping the message board filled with information and provide viewers a place to get answers to questions and also the ability to post information and success stories about players and coaches. Bottom line, we are very lucky to have guys like Tom in the baseball community.

So, to answer the first question... I'd say the biggest difference in where Impact Baseball started and where it is today is the relationships with college coaches, professional scouts, high school coaches and of course the players themselves. I remember when I first started... I knew NOBODY! It took some guts to try to talk to college coaches and professional scouts about what I was trying to do when I did not know them. Most did not show me much interest at the time, but a few guys really took interest and encouraged me to keep on trucking. I find it funny that the guys who did not show me much interest when I began are the guys that lean on me the most now. I still give them crap about it!

IMPACT is all about helping college coaches and professional scouts as well as aiding the players and parents. I'd say that recruiting for college coaches was a lot different and much more difficult before IMPACT came along. It's funny, I know a lot of the hard working college coaches get upset about how well we cover the area and promote players. IMPACT really benefits the lazy college coaches as much as the hard working ones. The guys who get out and work give me a hard time sometimes. I get this all the time from coaches, "AP, how about not blowing this kid up on your website. Keep him on the down-low for another week or two." That just makes me want to work harder for that kid!

I don't think the players and parents realize how many players we help on a daily basis. I talk to quite a few coaches each week about guys. I think those guys have trust in me because I am honest and I generally have an idea what level a kid can play at. I am always right - of course not... I am also fortunate to have relationships with some of the better players since many attend our showcase events or I have the opportunity to coach those guys in the summer and fall, so coaches lean on me sometimes to give them a better evaluation on the player's make-up, abilities, etc.

- In your opinion, why do you think Impact has been so successful?

We do things the right way and we hustle. I know that I personally see over 200 high school teams every spring. Do I write about every one of them? - No, but I do take note of the players on hand and share with coaches and scouts what I see.

I think the affordable prices of our showcases and the results that we get also make IMPACT attractive to players who want to go to college in this area. Our showcase events are about half the price of what some of the "bigger" National showcase organizations are, and we draw equal or more college coaches and professional scouts at our events.

 

Part 2

-What makes a player a "Dirtbag"?

Great question - First, that is the name of the summer and fall teams we operate. I'd like to clear up this point. The Dirtbags are not the same organization as Impact Baseball. Too many people get this confused. There are no "Impact Dirtbags." The Dirtbags are the "team" I operate. Impact Baseball is something totally different.

Our team Captain, Tyler Hanover said this back in 2006, "A Dirtbag is an attitude. It's the way you prepare yourself for the game. You're a team player, you'll do whatever is needed for the team to win. You’re a fraternity of brothers that makes no excuses. You'll sacrifice body and stats for your team. A Dirtbag never wonders 'what if' at the end of a game, but 'what's next.' A Dirtbag loves and respects the game, he realizes that wearing that uniform is his badge of honor. He's the type of player you always want on your team, the type you'd go to battle with. I'm proud to say I'm a Dirtbag."

One of my favorite alumni, Ryan Morris said this:

Determined to be the best in everything he does!
In control of himself and the game!
Ready to react to every play!
Team oriented all the way!
Believes in his teammates and coaches!
Aggressive 100% of the time!
Gives all he’s got, leaves it all on the field!
"That’s what a Dirtbag means to me!"
- Ryan Morris, 2006 (4th RD Draft Pick of the Cleveland Indians)

We take pride in what we’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish with the Dirtbags. Our goal is to be the best team in the United States of America every year. We’ve proved over and over that our area’s players are as good as any other group of players from other parts of the country.

- When you look back at some of the players that have been in your program, Josh Horton, Chad Flack and a host of others; and to see them blossom in college, you must be proud?

That's a couple of pretty good names to start with! Yes, it does make me very proud to have played a very small role in their success. I know my role in this whole thing and it is very small, but it's a wonderful feeling to see the guys I have been lucky enough to either coach, develop a relationship with or simply meet at one of our showcases. When a player drops you a note to say "Thanks" or stops by one of our games or showcases just to say "Hey" really goes a long way with me. I really love when a kid or parent says they were recommended by an IMPACT or Dirtbag alumni. That says a lot about our programs.

- I remember a number of years ago we had a conversation about Jupiter. It was the initial years of taking teams down there and you said, "Braves, I'm going to get this thing right." Well, you have found the right formula. What have you done differently?

I don't think there is any secret that you have to have good players to do well in any tournament of the magnitude of Jupiter. We have to surround ourselves with the best players and the best people we can in order to have success in any event of that nature.

The Jupiter event is what we work hard all year towards. It's the Dirtbag's "Omaha." We don't go down their for the exposure, we go down to win. If somebody watches us play, cool. If nobody watches us play, guess what? - We are still going to tee it up and try to beat-up somebody.

 

Part 3


- I love your idea of gathering HS teams at the beginning of the season for a tournament. Do you see yourself expanding that in the future?

Thanks - I think it's exciting to have an "invite only" team tournament and create a stir early in the season. I think this event will grow to about 12 teams eventually, maybe even next year. I'm lucky to a good idea who the better players are in North Carolina, so it's easy to know which teams are going to be good as well, so we can invite those guys early. Look for a very good roster of teams again next year.

- I am not trying to put you on the spot, but do you have "special" players that you have special feelings for?

Of course I do. There are a lot of guys that I have great relationships with. The list is not too long, but there are certain guys I really, really care about and will do whatever I can to help them. I'd love to have the ability to help everybody equally, but I know my limitations - I'm only one guy, I cannot do but so much without help from others. I'm not the only guy out there helping players. I just want to do my portion.

- What do you see Impact doing in the future? New plans? TV?

TV? I like it! - Maybe one day Braves... You can be the talk-show host. I'm sure we could take over Ellen and Oprah!

I did have the pleasure of doing a little color commentary with Richard Sarmiento on the Stretchlon Sports Show during the IMPACT Invitational this past weekend. It was a nice taste of TV. I had a great time, and Richard is a super commentator. I learned a lot from him.

Well, as far as new ideas - I hate to pass out more good ones... I seem to be pretty good at giving others brilliant ideas.

I would like to see us cover more games in the Carolinas and Virginia to provide more input to viewers and help college coaches and professional scouts with the information. Obviously you must have good staff. We do plan to expand with more game coverage in the spring seasons. Guys like Justin Easter and Larry Smith are doing a great job right now for us. We need more guys like them with character who want to get out and hustle and make a difference.

It would be nice to have our own indoor facility with a couple of fields. Any investors out there? There are a few other crazy ideas I've got, but I want let the cat out of the bag yet...

- For those that have never met you, what would you tell them about Andy Partin?

One: I am about as regular a guy as you'll meet. Two: I work my butt off at my job, and I'm good at it. And Three: I have an obsession with this great game and helping others, just like many others out there. Like I said earlier, I know my role is very small in this whole thing, but I am here to make a positive impact on the game and help those I can.

For me, nothing is more important than family. Loving and helping support my wife Tracy and my daughter Molly Jo is my main goal in life. But, baseball and helping others is a passion of mine. I know the things we do at Impact Baseball helps a lot of people. Hey, I am fired up to go to work every day to try to make a difference. Until that feeling leaves me, I'll keep hanging around.

 

Part 4

-Take this time to discuss anything that we haven't mentioned that is important to you?

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of TBR. Hopefully I was able to answer some questions others have had. Now, I could write a book on my advice to players and parents, but here are a few important points I would like to advise players and parents on.

My Advice to Parents: Be much more realistic about your son's ability on the baseball field than you are right now. Go out and watch college games and educate yourself on how good the players are at the JUCO, DI, DII and DIII levels. And bottom line, do not try to be an agent for your kid. Nothing turns me, and all college coaches off more than a parent telling me/us how great their kid is. We've got eyes and the ability to evaluate talent, let us do it. Keep the stats and player profiles at home. Remember the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words." It's not what you say, it's how you play. I know it's tough to swallow that your kid is not as good as some of his peers. Who cares... Let your kid enjoy the game and support him in a positive manner. He will not play baseball forever.

My Advice to Players: Do your best on the baseball field and in the classroom, do things the right way, treat others the way you want to be treated, be excited to be on the field everyday and do not take for granted how lucky you are to be playing baseball. There will come a day when you have to hang up the spikes. You are one injury away from calling it quits. If you are a talented baseball player and you want to play college baseball in the Carolinas/Virginia area, we hope to see you this summer at one of our showcase events. And if you are lucky enough to be recruited to play college baseball, pay close attention to the schools that show you the most interest. Best of luck to all the players!

I hope for those that have not met Andy Partin that you will have a better understanding of who he is and what AP is about. And for those that do know him, this interview just confirms what you already knew. He is a class guy that runs a first class operation. He has never been one of those "look at me" type guys. He is no different now then when he was combing the beaches of NC, the mountains out west and everything in between for the sole purpose to help promote a talented young player for the purpose to see him play in college. He has dedicated himself to this; he is committed to continue to see his dreams come true...to play a key role in gathering attention for the deserved players throughout NC, SC and Va and while doing so..to touch each others lives.

 

A terrific interview of a high quality, "stand up" guy; one who's been an immemsely positive factor for high school basebal players in the region since the early part of this decade.

Way to go, Andy!!!

:congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

 

Andy,

Thanks for the interview....we appraciate what you do for baseball in the Carolinas and Virginia. Keep up the good work...hope to see you soon at the ball field.

 

Thanks AP!

The guy has a passion for the game and the guys that play it. Thanks for the interview.

 

Andy has earned my respect. That's as high a compliment as I can pay. He earned it.

 

The advice to the parents is the most logical and best advice I've ever heard. It's blunt, but it's true. I breifly talked to Andy at Cedar Ridge last year but didn't get to have a conversation with him. Seemed like a good guy. He's doing something I'd love to do. I just have to finish with my degree first.

 

Bump