Enjoying the ride

At an age where most folks begin to think about winding down and enjoying the golden years, Tom Brunswick is still throwing batting practice, hitting baseballs for infield warmups, making out lineup cards and teaching the game that has been a part of his life for the majority of his 64 years.

The Coldwater native will continue his work this weekend as the Cavalier ACME team will play in the ACME Baseball Congress state tournament starting Saturday in St. Henry, just a short jaunt from home.

After having played all the way up to Double-A in the minor leagues and coaching the game, most notably over 10 years with the Grand Lake Mariners, one could ask why he would be spending his summers coaching when he could be relaxing with family and friends.

The answer is simple.

"I guess I enjoy the competition and camaraderie," said Brunswick. "I enjoy taking a group of young men that lost a tough game in (the spring) tournament - except the years we win the last one (a state title) - and taking them and trying to bond them together as team.

"After you lose seniors, it's tough. The first couple of practices are awkward because you're looking for the seniors and they're not there. I enjoy that. When you start the summer, it's all new faces, young men who haven't played together as a team (guys split between varsity, junior varsity and freshman ball) for a while or forever and in a short amount of time, because all you really have is June, try to get them to be a good team and build the chemistry for a successful season."

Brunswick played for his father Lou Brunswick at Coldwater before graduating in 1976. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round of the 1976 draft, Brunswick played five seasons, reaching Double-A West Haven in the Athletics' organization before leaving the pros with a lifetime .253 average.

Then came his next career, as a teacher - much like his father and several of his six siblings - and coach of different sports. Brunswick joined the newly formed Grand Lake Mariners as an assistant coach and moved up to the head coaches job. During his years as skipper, Brunswick guided the team to two Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League championships before deciding to step away from the team in 2001.

But rather than rest, he took an opportunity to become an assistant for the summer baseball team in Coldwater for friend Romie Schwieterman.

"I had finished with the Mariners and went to Romie and asked if I could help, and he said 'Sure! Come along!' " said Brunswick. "He took me onboard along with (assistant) Matt Loughridge."

When Schwieterman retired after the 2008 season, Brunswick moved up to the head coaching job and continued the success for the Cavs of Summer. Coldwater has been state runner-up twice during Brunswick's tenure, the last coming in 2015 when it lost to Van Wert in the final at Veterans Field. This year's squad enters the state tournament at 16-4.

"ACME is where I need to be right now," Brunswick said. "When I was with the Mariners, I was in my 30s and it was a continuous grind of 24/7/365 as far as recruiting players, and the travel was a lot. With ACME, you just take the team and coach them because Harley (Coldwater spring coach Brian Harlamert) does a lot helping me and telling me which guys he wants to see because it's for him (for next season). ACME is beautiful because it keeps your guys together and they represent the community while harnessing the skills."  

Even if Coldwater had lost in the districts, Brunswick planned to be in St. Henry this weekend with his family to watch the games.

"We have rooms reserved (at the Romer's Inn, located just past the right field fence at the Wally Post Athletic Complex) Sunday and Monday. We couldn't get any Saturday," said Brunswick. "We're going to be there no matter what."

This year, though, there is a bigger reason for Brunswick to attend, as he was selected to the ACME Baseball Congress Hall of Fame, joining his dad (part of the inaugural class in 2005) and brother Mark (inducted in 2010).

"I'm humbled to be going into the Hall of Fame with the previous 35 that have been put in," said Brunswick, who will be inducted Saturday along with longtime Wapakoneta coach Willie Sammetinger and umpire Tim Kuehner, who was originally selected in 2020 but had to delay his induction due to the pandemic. "I've spent 20 years and it's been a good ride with Coldwater. (Park director and District 4 commissioner) Toby Siefring and the park have been really helpful and the boys have been good. It's been fun."

As a former ACME player and now coach, Brunswick is glad that the league is still going strong for over 60 years.

"What was started in 1960 by Dad and the pioneers of ACME is still working 60 years later," said Brunswick. "It works for Coldwater and the surrounding area. We're proud of keeping it going."

It will get a chance for the Brunswick men - father Lou, Tom, Mark and youngest brother Jeff - to get together again.

"Mark, Jeff and myself always wanted to be half the coach Dad was and is," said Brunswick. "If you add up Mark's wins, Jeff's wins and my wins, I think we have half the amount of wins Dad had. I think we made it."