John and Harry Major have spent plenty of Father’s Days together on the baseball diamond as coach and player.
Today, the father and son will have a rather relaxed Father’s Day while preparing for the biggest game of their lives. They’re part of the Columbus East baseball team that will face Hamilton Southeastern for the Class 4A state championship at around 8:30 p.m. Monday at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
“We’re playing for the ultimate prize, and it’s definitely going to be special and I’m definitely going to enjoy it,” John Major said.
John Major played shortstop for East, graduating in 1983. He became an assistant in 2007, the same year as current head coach Jon Gratz, and now is in his 13th year coaching the Olympian infielders.
Major coached his stepson, Tyson Moore, when Moore was growing up, but Moore played football and competed in track and field in high school. John Major coached Harry for eight years in the Indiana Blazers organization, and now, Harry is a freshman at East.
“It’s exciting,” Harry said. “He’s been there my whole life, so I really don’t think anything of it. I like spending Father’s Day on the field with him. In travel ball, he would probably focus on me more. This year, I’m just an independent person like everybody else on the team.”
Another Major — sophomore Ben Major — also plays in the infield for the Olympians. When pitching ace Cole Gilley is on the mound, Ben Major plays third base, and Harry Major is at second. When anyone else is pitching, Gilley is at third, and Ben Major is at second.
Harry Major has not committed an error in 11 games at second base this season.
“It’s exciting,” John Major said. “Early on, him trying to find his place, you’d get maybe a little more nervous watching him than another player. But he showed he belongs where he’s at, and we have confidence in him. Even in every-day practice, it’s fun to watch him. I’m watching everybody, but obviously your own son, it’s a little special.”
Ben saw a little action last season, when his brother Josh was the starting second baseman during East’s run to its first sectional championship since 1999. Ben has been a key player this year, batting .226 with three doubles, 10 RBIs and 18 runs scored for a team that has reached the state title game for the first time.
“It’s a fun experience because I’ve grown up with them my whole life and have been around Harry a lot,” Ben said. “It’s exciting being able to play with him, and I’m excited for the upcoming years, being able to keep playing with him.”
Harry has batted only a handful of times and usually plays in the defensive spot for the designated hitter.
“It’s kind of good at the varsity level just playing defense,” John Major said. “Then, he doesn’t have to worry about the hitting, and he can just concentrate on defense. He doesn’t hit much at the varsity level, but he hit pretty good at the JV level when he’s played there. He’s done what we’ve asked of him. It’s been a good year for him.”
Gratz said both Ben and Harry Major have been solid all year and that it’s nice to have guys that can play different positions. Gratz said he could plug those guys in about anywhere on the infield and feel pretty good about it, and that versatility is something he looks for as a coach.
A lot of that versatility stems from the coaching that John Major has provided.
“John and I came in together as assistants 13 years ago, and we’ve been through a lot together, some ups and downs,” Gratz said. “He means a ton to our program. He’s been the infield coach here for 13 years. He’s a guy that’s never satisfied with where he’s at as a coach, and he’s always trying to learn and get better in the offseason so he can help the kids get better. He does an excellent job with our infielders.”
John Major was a shortstop for the Olympians. His brother (and Ben’s father) Mark filled in at second base late in games when he was a freshman and John was a senior, then moved to shortstop for his final three years. Ben figures to move to shortstop next season with three-year starter Jonah Wichman graduating.
“My dad was talking recently that all of us have been shortstops,” John Major said. “My dad was a shortstop at Martinsville and then at Indiana State. So it will be a special Father’s Day for him, too, getting to watch Ben and Harry play.”
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What: Class 4A baseball state final
Who: Columbus East (25-4) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (28-8)
When: 8:30 p.m. Monday (following 5:30 p.m. Class A final between University and Washington Township)
Where: Victory Field, Indianapolis
Admission: $10
TV: Fox Sports Indiana
Note: Unless Monday’s game ends extremely late, there will be a celebration at Columbus East High School when the team returns.
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For more coverage of the East Olympians road to a state championship, see today’s Republic Sports section.
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