Episode 9: Episode 9: Scott Schweitzer

Scott Schweitzer graduated from Campbell County High School in 1998 where he was Kentucky all-state first basemen playing baseball for Hall of Fame head coach Tom Mohr.
The Camels were 31-6 Schweitzer’s senior season which broke the record for most wins in a season. That year the Camels were 10th region tournament runners-up to eventual state champion Harrison County coached by Mac Whitaker and led on the field by Gary “Noochie” Varner (https://www.noochievarnerbaseball.com/page/show/4136245-instructors).
Some of Schweitzer’s high school teammates at Campbell County included Rick White who broke Steve Hamilton’s school record for most home runs and Ronnie Sansom who Schweitzer credits as being the best catcher that he ever played with on any level.
After committing originally to Bethune-Cookman, Schweitzer ultimately goes to Aquinas College a junior college program in Nashville, Tennessee coached by Chuck Anderson.
Schweitzer talks about his recruitment and how things have changed in the not only in the process itself but how scholarship dispersals are different from back then up to now.
Schweitzer went to college as a first basemen and ended up as a pitcher when his hitting career got off to a slow start. He got an emergency start when the scheduled starter became injured during warmups and pitched well enough to stay on the staff.
After wrapping up his career at Aquinas, Schweitzer eventually decided on Kentucky Wesleyan (https://kwcpanthers.com/sports/baseball) after visits to East Tennessee State and Northern Kentucky. The main thing that attracted him to Kentucky Wesleyan was the opportunity to be a two-way player as assistant coach Rob Henry (https://ksuthorobreds.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/rob-henry/305) saw him as a first baseman, designated hitter and relief pitcher.
The staff at Kentucky Wesleyan also included head coach Todd Lillpop (https://kwcpanthers.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/todd-lillpop/542) and assistant coach Josh Bradford (https://lourdesathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/josh-bradford/407).
During his senior year at Kentucky Wesleyan in 2002, Schweitzer was a 1st-team All-GLVC designated hitter and 2nd-team All-GLVC pitcher. He led the team in both home runs and wins on the mound.
One of the biggest thrills in Schweitzer’s career at Kentucky Wesleyan was getting the win in a 1-0 game against Northern Kentucky and driving in the lone run of the game.
Schweitzer is drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round with the 552nd pick of the 2002 amateur draft. He talks about his draft day experience and the contract negotiation with Cardinals scout Scott Melvin that earned him a $1,000 signing bonus.
We now get to the point of the show where we talk about how much of a financial struggle it is for a minor leaguer that doesn’t sign for big money. It takes the help of a supportive family at home and generous host families to support what Schweitzer calls his “baseball habit.”
His host family in New Jersey, Jeff and Patty, owned the Third Base Pub (https://thirdbasepubnj.com) in Branchville, New Jersey and where players received a generous discounted rate.
Now that he’s officially in the Cardinals organization, Schweitzer is introduced what is known as the “Cardinal Way.”
Schweitzer credits former big league pitcher Bill Campbell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/campbbi02.shtml) for helping him the most as a coach in during his time in the Cardinals system. Campbell, who is best known for being part of the first free agent class in baseball history during the 1976-77 off-season, was the pitching coach for the New Jersey Cardinals.
Gene Tenace (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tenacge01.shtml), who was the 1972 World Series MVP for the Oakland A’s, was also on that staff and helped Schweitzer develop a slider as a strikeout pitch.
Schweitzer talks about injuring his elbow while pitching to Howie Kendrick (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kendrho01.shtml) with Alberto Callaspo (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/callaal01.shtml) on first base. The end result was Tommy John surgery.
Other coaches in the Cardinals system that left a mark on Schweitzer were Tommy Shields (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shielto01.shtml) and Sid Monge (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mongesi01.shtml).
Schweitzer eventually retires at the all-star break of the 2005 season to begin his new life as a family man and figure what to do with his life without baseball. After working briefly in sales Schweitzer decides that he likes working with kids and eventually gets his teaching certificate working in the Campbell County School District.
A chance meeting with his friend Bob Rowe steers him towards the Bishop Brossart High School baseball program. He becomes the pitching coach for five seasons under head coach Ron Verst.
The Campbell County job becomes open after the 2009 season and it’s a no brainer that Schweitzer applies for it. He is hired by Hall of Famer Bob Jones whose wife Marlene helped him get into teaching.
Schweitzer becomes the head coach at his alma matter Campbell County in 2010. He has coached the Camels to nearly 200 career wins. In 2016, Campbell County went on a magical run that resulted and were KHSAA state runner-ups.
Schweitzer reflects on his career overall and talks about how lucky he has been and the great things he has been able to take part in thanks to the great game in baseball.
To conclude the podcast Schweitzer tells a hilarious story about how he now fully understands what its like to be a parent of a child playing a sport.
You can follow the Campbell County baseball account on Twitter its @CamelsBaseball (https://twitter.com/CamelsBaseball)
You can follow Brady Laber on Twitter @BradyLaber1 (https://twitter.com/BradyLaber1) please use the hashtag #NobodysSafe
Check out the Nobody’s Safe website at nobodysssafe.fireside.fm (https://nobodysssafe.fireside.fm)
For more information on Stove Leg Media go the website StoveLeg.com (https://www.stoveleg.com) or send an email to [email protected]
Intro music for the podcast was provided by bensoud.com (https://www.bensound.com)
Cover art photo provided by Allen Ramsey of DWC Photo (https://dwcphoto.smugmug.com)

Scott Schweitzer graduated from Campbell County High School in 1998 where he was Kentucky all-state first basemen playing baseball for Hall of Fame head coach Tom Mohr.

The Camels were 31-6 Schweitzer’s senior season which broke the record for most wins in a season. That year the Camels were 10th region tournament runners-up to eventual state champion Harrison County coached by Mac Whitaker and led on the field by Gary “Noochie” Varner.

Some of Schweitzer’s high school teammates at Campbell County included Rick White who broke Steve Hamilton’s school record for most home runs and Ronnie Sansom who Schweitzer credits as being the best catcher that he ever played with on any level.

After committing originally to Bethune-Cookman, Schweitzer ultimately goes to Aquinas College a junior college program in Nashville, Tennessee coached by Chuck Anderson.

Schweitzer talks about his recruitment and how things have changed in the not only in the process itself but how scholarship dispersals are different from back then up to now.

Schweitzer went to college as a first basemen and ended up as a pitcher when his hitting career got off to a slow start. He got an emergency start when the scheduled starter became injured during warmups and pitched well enough to stay on the staff.

After wrapping up his career at Aquinas, Schweitzer eventually decided on Kentucky Wesleyan after visits to East Tennessee State and Northern Kentucky. The main thing that attracted him to Kentucky Wesleyan was the opportunity to be a two-way player as assistant coach Rob Henry saw him as a first baseman, designated hitter and relief pitcher.

The staff at Kentucky Wesleyan also included head coach Todd Lillpop and assistant coach Josh Bradford.

During his senior year at Kentucky Wesleyan in 2002, Schweitzer was a 1st-team All-GLVC designated hitter and 2nd-team All-GLVC pitcher. He led the team in both home runs and wins on the mound.

One of the biggest thrills in Schweitzer’s career at Kentucky Wesleyan was getting the win in a 1-0 game against Northern Kentucky and driving in the lone run of the game.

Schweitzer is drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round with the 552nd pick of the 2002 amateur draft. He talks about his draft day experience and the contract negotiation with Cardinals scout Scott Melvin that earned him a $1,000 signing bonus.

We now get to the point of the show where we talk about how much of a financial struggle it is for a minor leaguer that doesn’t sign for big money. It takes the help of a supportive family at home and generous host families to support what Schweitzer calls his “baseball habit.”

His host family in New Jersey, Jeff and Patty, owned the Third Base Pub in Branchville, New Jersey and where players received a generous discounted rate.

Now that he’s officially in the Cardinals organization, Schweitzer is introduced what is known as the “Cardinal Way.”

Schweitzer credits former big league pitcher Bill Campbell for helping him the most as a coach in during his time in the Cardinals system. Campbell, who is best known for being part of the first free agent class in baseball history during the 1976-77 off-season, was the pitching coach for the New Jersey Cardinals.

Gene Tenace, who was the 1972 World Series MVP for the Oakland A’s, was also on that staff and helped Schweitzer develop a slider as a strikeout pitch.

Schweitzer talks about injuring his elbow while pitching to Howie Kendrick with Alberto Callaspo on first base. The end result was Tommy John surgery.

Other coaches in the Cardinals system that left a mark on Schweitzer were Tommy Shields and Sid Monge.

Schweitzer eventually retires at the all-star break of the 2005 season to begin his new life as a family man and figure what to do with his life without baseball. After working briefly in sales Schweitzer decides that he likes working with kids and eventually gets his teaching certificate working in the Campbell County School District.

A chance meeting with his friend Bob Rowe steers him towards the Bishop Brossart High School baseball program. He becomes the pitching coach for five seasons under head coach Ron Verst.

The Campbell County job becomes open after the 2009 season and it’s a no brainer that Schweitzer applies for it. He is hired by Hall of Famer Bob Jones whose wife Marlene helped him get into teaching.

Schweitzer becomes the head coach at his alma matter Campbell County in 2010. He has coached the Camels to nearly 200 career wins. In 2016, Campbell County went on a magical run that resulted and were KHSAA state runner-ups.

Schweitzer reflects on his career overall and talks about how lucky he has been and the great things he has been able to take part in thanks to the great game in baseball.

To conclude the podcast Schweitzer tells a hilarious story about how he now fully understands what its like to be a parent of a child playing a sport.

You can follow the Campbell County baseball account on Twitter its @CamelsBaseball

You can follow Brady Laber on Twitter @BradyLaber1 please use the hashtag #NobodysSafe

Check out the Nobody’s Safe website at nobodysssafe.fireside.fm

For more information on Stove Leg Media go the website StoveLeg.com or send an email to [email protected]

Intro music for the podcast was provided by bensoud.com

Cover art photo provided by Allen Ramsey of DWC Photo