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Jerry Hargis learned a life lesson at age 28 that changed his perspective on things.(Photo: Zachary Holden/Telegraph-Forum)

BUCYRUS - Softball is just a game.

That's the mindset Bucyrus coach Jerry Hargis has during these unprecedented times of a stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now in his 10th season coaching the Lady Redmen, Hargis understands this is unlike anything his teams have ever seen before, but knows that as long as he and his team stay healthy, that's all that really matters.

"I worry about them more not taking care of themselves and being careful in public if they go out," Hargis said."Kids are kids and sometimes they think they're invincible and can do anything, but they just need to take care of themselves and the parents will do a good job of that, too."

Hargis has a unique perspective on this situation that others in his position do not. When he was 28 years old, he contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a bacterial disease spread by ticks that begins with a fever and headache, then leads to the development of a rash made up of small spots of bleeding.

"I've been through this thing once, not knowing day-to-day what's going to happen," Hargis said."It was very uncommon this side of the Mississippi River, out west it was common, so right away they didn't know what it was. I was in the hospital for a while, then they sent my blood to Atlanta and found out what it was. The treatment was just antibiotics and they bombard your body with them. You go through that stuff and at the time you don't worry about it much, but when it's over, it it makes you think about what's really going on in this world.

"So you sort of get beyond that if you've experienced it once, and this will be great for the kids. If we get through this thing which I'm sure we will they'll experience it and realize it's a part of life."

When he met with his team on the final day before the stay-at-home order went into effect, he made the decision to have the girls clear out their lockers in the locker room.

"I had an inkling when I read something about this thing being a lot worse than it looked, and I had an inkling something big was coming," Hargis said."I directed the girls to take all their stuff, anything that belonged to them, out of the locker room. We have not been back to the locker room yet, but the girls have stayed in contact with each other. I told them if they want to throw the ball and hit, call someone and do it, but don't call me.

"This is an active group of girls we have and they're serious about this sport, so I'm sure they've gotten together some."

That's one thing Hargis hasn't had to worry about. This is a Lady Redmen team coming off sharing a Northern 10 title in 2018 and seeing one slip through their grasps last year due to an untimely injury to pitcher Caleigh Rister in the district semifinal that ultimately led to a district runner-up finish to rival Galion and a loss at Carey in the final league game a week later.

They're hungry for more.

Jerry Hargis is in his 10th year coaching the Lady Redmen.(Photo: Zachary Holden/Telegraph-Forum)

"I saw them on the practice field one day and I blew the horn, that's as close to contact with them I've been," Hargis said."This is somethingwhere the kids need to realize they're growing up, it's time to take care of yourselves for a bit and you figure it out. Don't have someone else come by and tell you how it ought to be, you figure it out for yourself."

It's more of a life lesson than a softball lesson.

He's approaching this as a learning lesson for his team. Hargis has been hands-off when it comes to coaching during the stay-at-home order,he wants them to focus on the bigger picture.

"It's more of a life lesson than a softball lesson," Hargis said."Softball will come and go, we'll have a season next year if we don't have one this year hopefully we get some games in, but I don't know if we will this has to be a life lesson you learn from and you're going to play softball more down the road."

As someone who usually has no free time from March to June, Hargis is making the most out of being at home.

"I keep myself busy," Hargis said."I've worked more on my house in the last four, five, six weeks than I have in a long time. I used to coach football and I coach softball, so I'm busy most of the time, but I'm piddling around doing things that need to be done and probably should've been done five or six years ago."

He also said it's somewhat of a blessing in disguise as it has helped his family as a whole become closer.

"I'm enjoying the family life a little more," Hargis said."My wife, who is an educator, is laid off, but we're as close as we've been in a long time ... It gives you more family time, the kids talk to you and worry about you a little more, they call us and want to visit more. We're a lot closer as a family, as I'm sure everyone else is."

At the end of the day, softball is just a game.

"That registered to me during this whole thing," Hargis said."People are scared to death, they really are, and I would be too if I hadn't lived so long. I've lived long enough that I know things like this are going to happen.

"It's part of the growing process."

zholden@gannett.com

419-617-6018

Twitter: @Zachary_Holden

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Coaches Check-up | Bucyrus' Jerry Hargis brings unique perspective to the pandemic - Bucyrus Telegraph Forum