As yet another spring approaches, another baseball season for the Braves is beginning to unfold.

But this year there will be something a little different for the Blanchet varsity baseball team. A void. Not just any void, like that of the departure of a strong senior class. No, this void runs nearly four decades deep within the program.

This void will be the absence of varsity head coach Mr. George Monica, and it will undoubtedly change the team environment.

Blanchet varsity assistant baseball coach Mike Finnegan was promoted to head coach of the program after Monica stepped down from his position following the conclusion of the 2015 campaign.

Monica retired at the end of last season after 37 years at the helm of Blanchet baseball. He took the Braves to the state playoffs 18 times and won a championship in 1996. Monica became one of three baseball coaches in state history to reach 500 career wins.

Mr. Finnegan, however, is far from short of experience with the team himself. He has been a part of Blanchet baseball for over 20 years, starting as the junior varsity baseball coach in 1992 and assuming the position of varsity assistant for the past 3 years.

None the less, there are intangibles about Monica and his unique style of coaching that have been established that will not be easily replaced.

“Coach Monica was always reeling kids if they made silly mistakes or anything,” said two year varsity veteran, senior Alex Freeman. “He created a really positive, fun practice environment where everyone wanted to come to get better.”

“I don’t think you can get the most out of your players unless you can have some fun doing it,” said Monica.

The program was always in good hands with Monica according to Finnegan. It is renowned that he knew how to develop his teams and instill a winning environment no matter who he was dealt as players.

“Coach Monica genuinely cared about all the student athletes he was associated with,” said two year varsity veteran, senior Alex Merrywell. “He strove to help everybody grow as an individual player and more importantly as a team unit.”

This season will surely serve as a testament to Monica’s importance to the program. His absence will surely be recognized, but it will only push this year’s group to continue the tradition Monica established with the program.

“I’m ready and eager to continue the legacy of excellence that has been established in the baseball program throughout the past many years and look forward to the challenge of creating my own legacy with the program,” said Finnegan.

The Braves begin their first season without Monica running the show today with a road game at Kamiak High School. The Blanchet community will be waiting to see how his absence will present itself.