Armorel Tigers honor Charlie Brown

ARMOREL— The Armorel Tigers honored longtime head coach Charlie Brown Tuesday afternoon before the Tigers season opener matchup against the Piggott Mohawks. 

The Armorel School District and Brown also honored the late Hugh Don Ashmore, who passed away Sunday, February 18.

After being introduced by Armorel High School principal Kelley Hopper an emotional Brown told the story of his “two heros” in his life — his dad Billy Brown and Hugh Don, his uncle— who the Armorel baseball field is named after. 

The Armorel Tigers baseball team honored longtime Tigers head coach Charlie Brown. Coach Brown then delivered opening remarks about the late Hugh Don Ashmore, who passed on Feb. 18,2024 before the Tigers opening day match against the Piggott Mohawks. Pictured is Tigers senior Jake Byrd shaking hands with Brown.

“I would like to talk about two of my heros,” Brown explained. “I just like to pay a tribute to them. One is Hugh Don Ashmore. We lost Hugh Don this week, but his spirit will live on through you guys and how much you give to the program. Because he and Billy Brown were givers. All of these facilities around here wouldn't be possible if just for the effort, fundraising and different things.”

Ashmore served on the Armorel School Board for 26-years and helped fund Armorel athletics for several decades. 

According to Ashmore’s obituary, he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals in his early twenties. After trying out Ashmore stayed involved with sports and coached youth baseball. 

During opening remarks, Brown recalled his childhood of driving in the back of Hugh Don’s truck and driving to play baseball in the “old farmers league”. 

Brown began coaching his alma mater's basketball program in 1984 and later built one of the top baseball programs in the state of Arkansas. 

During Brown’s 25-year baseball coaching career, the Tigers won four state titles— 2006; 2011; 2015 and 2016– and finished as runner-ups three times. Along with a host of regional, district and conference titles. 

Brown explained that the days of winning the state championships were the happiest days of his life seeing the smiles on not only the kids face but his dad, Billy, and Hugh Don’s face, as-well.

Brown added the fundraising and donations from the two men, which were “thousands of dollars”, went to paying for the players' food and hotels on trips. 

“If we can remember Hugh Don, you know it’d be giving. Giving back and doing for others because that’s what he was all about,” said Brown. 

After the ceremonies concluded Brown told the Courier that Ashmore would be “fired up”. 

“Great day for baseball,” said Brown. “He’d be fired up. He believed in that baseball and he believed in that hustling and that given. That's what he was all about.” 

Brown continued, “We lost a good one, but he was all about giving.” 

Brown threw out the first pitch to first-year head coach Corbin Seibs. 

Seibs, who joined the Armorel staff at the end of the last school year, stated he has heard stories of Ashmore and his memory will never be forgotten in the Armorel community. 

“I have heard countless stories about Hugh Don,” explained Seibs. “Everything that he has done for this school and community is unbelievable and will never be forgotten. He was a great and selfless man and this community will forever be grateful!”

Brown stated the program was built from the ground up and he believes Seibs will take the Tigers baseball program to the “another level”. 

“I’ve hoped that I left it better than I found it. I remember where we started from chicken wire dugouts and construction wire fences. It’s through men like Hugh Don, daddy (Billy Brown), Robbie and Theresa Lawrence, Eric Lee, (Michael) Dobbins, and all these guys,” Brown said.”We just built it from the ground up and so I think Coach Seibs is going to take it to another level.”

Seibs said catching the first pitch was “special” and he “aspires” to be “half the man” Brown is. 

“It was more than special to catch that first pitch,” said Seibs. “The knowledge, time, and effort that Coach Brown has, and has put into this program is more than amazing.” 

Seibs continued, “I just aspire to be half the man and coach that he was and is. He left this place in great shape and I will do everything in my power to keep the long standing tradition that is Armorel baseball, in which he created, going!”

Seibs picked up his first win as a high school head coach as the Tigers prevailed 16-2 over the Mohawks.