Carroll County High School Baseball coach Casey Burcham is a man with a plan, the knowledge to execute said plan, and is surrounded by people who share the same vision.
It is the perfect combination needed to find long-term success, especially at the high school level. Burcham is just in his second year at the helm of the baseball program, and one doesn’t need to look any further than the number of local banners proudly displayed on the fence at Bill Worrell Field.
Having come up through the ranks as a player, turned star player, and then finding a home at Emory and Henry before returning to The Hill. Once again, Burcham worked his way up the ladder 🪜 and now operates at a level that is simply not the norm at a high school.
The Top 10 Things that set Casey Burcham apart from the rest of the field.
10. Humility – Casey Burcham is just about following his own path, not looking for any ME time. His program is about the players and for the players.
9. Experience – Burcham has spent the majority of his life around the game of baseball ⚾️. He has checked ✔️ every box 📦 along the way and absorbed knowledge from each stop ✋️.
8. The Castle 🏰 ( I add the on The Hill part) – Most times when a new coach takes over a program, especially one as in rich in tradition as Cavalier Baseball, it would be easy to slowly tweak the process. Not so much for Burcham to borrow from Jerry McGuire – you had me at Hello. What a first move !!!
7. Support from Administration – When you are coaching at the high school or college level, one thing that you crave is the feeling that the school has your back. In this case, it was solid gold as Burcham took the keys 🔑 from the man 👨 who now sits in the chair of the athletic director. There is no need to try and explain your needs to Mr Kevin DeHaven when he, too, has spent a fair amount of his life around the game of baseball as a whole and Cavalier baseball in particular.
6. Bill Worrell Field – the history of any program carries weight and adds to the home field advantage for the team. ✔️ that box 📦 as well because Carroll County High School was once led by a legendary coach. Mr Worrell made a lasting impression on everyone who his program reached.
5. Adam Nester – The key to any successful program is the ability to create a farm system or feeder system that is a proven commodity. Adam Nester has taken over the Junior Varsity team without missing a beat. Nester is a coaches son, and that automatically adds to your IQ in a relationship to a sport. The team captured its sixth straight Three Rivers District crown 👑 last season, and year 2 of the Nester Nine is off to another flying start.
4. Steve Combs – Casey & Combs was an easy tag for me from the very first time I watched the duo interact. To succeed in life at the degree that Burcham looks to succeed, one truly needs to have someone matching his drive and determination. Combs is the funnier of the two, but trust me, he bleeds Cavalier Blue.
3. Seth Greer – the value of the relationship between fellow coaches on any given should never be undersold. When someone is as laser focused as Burcham, it helps to have the ear and the work ethic of another no-nonsense leader who is chasing the same goals.
2. Deana Burcham and Her extended family ! Without a doubt, my favorite part of being at Bill Worrell Field is that the entire operation feels like you are at a family Bar-B-Q. The concession stand, the press box, and even Craig Worrell taking photos at a place where his father’s name rests on it and his son currently plays.
- The number one reason for the rocket 🚀 like success to the Burcham Bunch is :
Back to the game preview that I mentioned earlier , Glenvar is coming to The Hill later today for a 5pm Varsity only First Pitch.
While our paths don’t cross that often because of my efforts to assist Shawn Montgomery , Jon Delp, Forrest Johnson, Jeremy Puckett, Adrienne Harris McGuire, Brittany Kinney, Terry Warf and Rick Nester with their programs in the springtime, don’t think for a second that I’m not the biggest fan of Casey Burcham and his Burcham Bunch !
Thank you, Coach, for leading by example !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 