Seventeen years ago, Coach Charlie Brown might have chuckled at the thought of the Armorel baseball program being in its current state.
The program he started was in its infancy in 1995, and there were plenty of growing pains, to put it mildly. The talent pool was pretty dry in the early stages. Often wins were hard to come by those first few seasons.
But Brown persevered.
That's one of the mandatory qualities to wear the Tiger uniform.
On Saturday, Brown's club will play for its third state baseball championship since 2006, taking on Midland at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
The Tigers have earned a spot in the championship games four times in the last nine years -- 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012.
They beat Union Christian, 2-0, in the 2006 contest without the benefit of a hit, relying on their scrappy, blue-collar brand of baseball. Then, last year, the Tigers blasted Viola, 13-7, behind a 14-hit performance, adding another trophy to the case that also includes the 2010 softball state crown.
Always fundamentally-sound, Armorel has made five straight state baseball semifinals and seven of the last nine, not to mention winning the past four district tournament banners and owning a conference winning streak that spans two seasons.
I can't think of a more deserving -- or modest -- coach than Brown.
Brown personifies class.
His teams represent the area well on and off the field.
They are yes-sir, no-sir, present themselves well and always show respect and sportsmanship, win or lose. One won't find off-the-field issues, only high-character kids.
They've been pretty good on the field these last few years too.
Give the lion's share of the credit to Brown.
A number of good coaches retire without a state championship -- the ultimate prize in the high school sports world. Brown has an opportunity for three.
That's pretty impressive, especially considering he's had to count on freshmen and seniors alike.
He'll deflect credit from himself to his players because that's his character.
But make no mistake -- Brown is the linchpin, the straw that stirs the drink, whatever idiom you want to use. He is the one who has built the program from the ground up, turning Armorel into a baseball power and putting a quality product on the field year in and year out.
What's amazing is Brown doesn't have the benefit of focusing his full attention on one sport.
Unlike some other successful, hard-working coaches, Brown teaches real classes and coaches Armorel's two major boys sports -- basketball and baseball.
As soon as the five-month basketball season ends, it's full steam ahead for baseball. Then, when school ends, he coaches the Armorel American Legion team.
Coaching at a small school is certainly not a job for the lazy.
And certainly, no one could accuse Brown of that.
Here's hoping the Tigers keep the 1A state championship in Armorel. They've earned the support of all local sports fans.
No matter Saturday's outcome, they truly are champions on and off the field.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com