When you’re sitting on a high school baseball bench that includes Hall of Fame Coach Robert Shields, Hall of Fame Coach Pete Iquinto and recently named Hall of Fame Coach Chris Colombo, it may seem unlikely that someone else sitting on the same bench could manage to occasionally stand out.

 

It’s particularly hard to do when you consider those three hall  of famers have been involved in the Indians’ state record five-straight Class AA baseball titles. Yet, it’s happened.

 

“Honestly, the guy’s a legend. Ask the coaches. Ask the kids. They’ll tell you the same thing and that’s the only way to describe him,” said Shields.

 

The guy in question is Johnny Orosz. He’s known to one and all that’s had any association to the baseball team as Johnny O.

 

He’s listed on the official WVSSAC roster as the team manager. It’s only that way because the state governing body for prep athletics doesn’t have a section for program legend and hasn’t offered that for posting on the SSAC Web site since he began 17 years ago.

 

There won’t be a year 18.

 

After enjoying every second of volunteering his time and being a part of five-straight Class AA state championships, Johnny O announced earlier this season that 2018 would be his last.

 

He’s not sick. He’s not being pushed away. And he’s not tired of the game. Instead, it’s for the simplest of reasons.

 

“No one realizes it, but I’m going to be 83 years old. My mind is 20, but no one is living at that age inside my body,” he said with a laugh. “I still have a home and maintain it, cut my own grass, and stay active, but I can feel my age. I certainly get tired easier than I did 17 years ago so I figured it was time to go out.”

 

How Orosz got involved is unique indeed. He moved to Bridgeport in 1973 and his son and daughter are both graduates of Bridgeport High School. Even before moving here, Orosz has had a lifelong passion for sports, including going to Ohio University on a football scholarship and drawing a bit of interest for his baseball play from his hometown Cleveland Indians.

 

His first taste of local sports, however, wasn’t inside the fences of the Wayne Jamison Complex. Rather, it was at Clarksburg’s Notre Dame High School.

 

“When I came down here, my neighbors were from Notre Dame and they invited me go to some of their games and I went because I love sports. I eventually started going down to the high school and watching baseball games and got interested,” said Orosz.

 

Eventually, he hooked up with Shields. And the ball, or baseball, began rolling.

 

“We hit it off,” said Orosz. “He asked me if I’d like to help out a bit and I just started doing things until I got doing a little bit more. Boy, am I glad he asked because it’s been a great 17 years.”

 

Early on, Johnny O was known for one thing in particular at most home games. If a ball was hit out of play, he would almost always find it. While that may not sound like a big deal, areas behind home plate at BHS as well as along the third base line include Simpson Creek and a hillside covered with dense vegetation.

 

“I can tell you he had an eye for finding baseballs,” said Shields. “He even had this pole with a net on it to get them out of the creek.

 

“You don’t think that’s a big deal? Let me assure you it is,” Shields continued. “He’s probably saved us thousands of dollars in baseballs between high school games and during (American) Legion games as well. He did that for a lot of years and saved us a lot of money. If he did that alone, it would have been worth having him around.”

 

Indeed it would have. As team manager, Orosz was a volunteer. Shields said his time was 100 percent donated, but his contributions were well beyond snagging baseballs.

 

“Here’s a guy that was a motivator and a great story teller the kids loved to listen to. All the boys loved being around Johnny O and if he needed to get on them, he would,” said Shields. “In all those years he only asked for one thing.”

 

That was a uniform to wear on the bench as the manager. A few years ago, he got one.

 

“It was great to put on those colors,” said Orosz. “When you put that uniform on you really knew you were part of that team even though I felt pretty good about being a part prior to that.”

 

Shields said he was glad the gesture was so appreciated.

 

“People say managers are support staff and that’s a true statement because no one supported this team more than Johnny has over the years,” said Shields. “Everyone that’s found success has a person or two that’s great behind the scenes. He’s that person for us, but he’s also hands-on as well.”

 

Indeed he is. Orosz could be seen shouting encouragement over the years, giving advice, fixing a helmet, chasing down balls or whatever was needed when it was needed.

 

When he announced he was leaving after this year, Shields and the group decided to do something about. And it was Iquinto who helped get it started.

 

Orosz had learned Iquinto was heading to Louisville to take in some college baseball and mentioned his desire to go to the Louisville Slugger museum and plant. He told Iquinto that he should stop there and let him know about the facility.

 

“He told me he probably would have time,” said Orosz.

 

As it turned out, Iquinto took the time. Once there, he got Johnny O a departing gift that he’ll always cherish.

 

“During the (regionals), they announced I was leaving and brought me out and presented me with a customized bat from that Louisville Slugger,” said Orosz. “That was a pretty special moment.”

 

Orosz will be the first to tell you there was one more special moment from 2018. It came in the state championship game against Wayne when the Indians looked dead in the water on their way to an improbable 17-15 comeback win for the ‘AA’ state title.

 

“During that rain delay I used the old Yogi Berra quote that it’s not over until it’s over and that we still had innings to play,” said Orosz as the Tribe trailed 7-1 and 13-8 late in the contest. “I talked to Chris Colombo during the delay and said this is either really going to hurt us or really help us. Turns out we didn’t lay down and it worked for us.

 

“What a way to go out,” Orosz continued about his last game with the Indians. “Coming back and beating that Wayne team that really could pound that ball was something else. It’s one of the best memories I’ll ever have of being there.”

 

The best memory of the program? That came in April 2015 and it was away from the field. It also came during one of the worst moments of Johnny Orosz’s life when his wife of 56 years passed away.

 

“My daughter was in after flying home and she came rushing in and wanted to know what was going on outside,” said Orosz. “I go out there and there were cars parked up and down the street. The whole team came over, the coaches and even parents like Paul Smith that helped so much were coming over. That was certainly a needed moment. I needed support and the team provided it. I’ll never forget it.”

 

It’s safe to say the program won’t forget Johnny O. No need to worry, though. He may not be on the bench, but you’ll still see him around.

 

“I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t going to miss it. I know it will be tough, but I’ll still be down there,” he said.  “The difference is I won’t be on the bench. I’ll be in a folding chair.”

 

Johnny O can sit in whatever he wants and sit wherever he wants. That’s what legendary status affords you.

 

Thanks for everything Johnny on a job well done. Enjoy the games.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Johnny Orosz taking in the Indians state semifinal game this year with James Monroe, while he talks during the regular season with an umpire in the second photo. In the third picture, Orosz makes sure the home plate umpire has plenty of baseballs to work with. In the bottom photo, Orosz, second from left is joined by Coach Pete Iquinto, left, Coach Robert Shields, second from left, and Coach Chris Colombo when he was presented with a customized Louisville Slugger in recognition for his dedication to the program. All photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.