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Coldwater baseball coach Cory Klenke instructs his players during a practice in the gym on Friday. Klenke is starting his first season as head coach after spending seven years as a varsity assistant under late coach Brian Harlamert.
COLDWATER - Friday's practice looked like any baseball practice when it's too cold and windy to go outside. Coldwater players were getting warmed up as Cory Klenke got ready to hit grounders on the floor of the Palace.
It's work that Klenke has done often in his years as a coach in the program of his alma mater.
But this season is different.
When the Cavaliers take to the field for the season opener on Saturday at Benjamin Logan, it will be with Klenke in the third base coaching box and not Brian Harlamert. It's an idea that still feels strange for Klenke, the 2009 Coldwater grad who had been Harlamert's assistant coach the past seven years and now leads the program after Harlamert's sudden death on Sept. 21 2022. Harlamert was only 51, but had already been enshrined into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in January of 2022 with over 500 wins and two state titles.
"With his passing, it's something that will be a focal point," said Klenke during a interview before practice got underway last week. "Hopefully, it's motivation for the boys and me, for sure, as he looks down on us, that the program is moving forward the way he had envisioned.
"But, yeah, it's been weird, for a lack of better words."
The bond between Harlamert and Klenke runs deep. Klenke was a standout pitcher and shortstop for Harlamert, earning first-team All-Ohio honors at shortstop in 2009 before moving on to play baseball at Miami University. After graduating, Klenke joined the Cavalier coaching staff, serving as a varsity assistant for seven years.
"He's an energetic and outspoken person," said Klenke about Harlamert. "It's hard to forget that. Being with him nine, 10 years and coaching with him, it's tough."
The Coldwater baseball program - and the entire village - has gone through a season of loss. Nine days after Harlamert's death, Lou Brunswick, who guided Coldwater to 750 career wins and five state titles in a 30-plus year career, died at the age of 92. Just as Klenke played for Harlamert, Harlamert played on two state championship teams for Brunswick.
Now, the program is under just its fourth coach since 1959: Brunswick, Gabby Wilker, Harlamert and now Klenke.
"We've been blessed with great coaches in all of our sports at Coldwater," said Klenke. "The longevity of that is something that is truly special. I hope to be a part of that and be here for many years and build this program that (the previous coaches) have built a foundation for and build plenty of levels. I hope to be able to continue that legacy that they built for us.
"It certainly wasn't the vision I had of becoming a head coach here, but I'll make the most of it. That's what Lou and Brian would want."
The reminders of Brian Harlamert are throughout the program. Eldest son Aaron Harlamert is part of Klenke's coaching staff and youngest son Evan is a senior infielder. Brian Harlamert's nephews, twins AJ and Braylen Harlamert, are also starters for the Cavaliers.
"The timing of everything is unbelievable," said Klenke. "Having the twins, Evan and Aaron (being) a big part of it has helped out. (Brian) has put his mark on all four of them like myself. I see glimpses of him every day from the four. It makes smile when I see that."
While there might be some thoughts of going out there and "win one for Harley," the goals listed by Klenke are much like the goals listed by Brian Harlamert during his career: win the Midwest Athletic Conference (something the Cavaliers did 13 times under Harlamert), be a state contender, and send the seniors off with a season they are proud of.
"The boys' focus for our goals this year and the years that follow will never change," said Klenke. "We still are going to continue to strive to be the best program we can possibly be and the best team year in and year out. Like I said, being an assistant to coach Harlamert for nine, 10 years has built in me what the vision is each year and what the expectations are. I don't see why they should change."
