A Coast coach stepped down after just 12 games. His replacement has been named.
Conner Douglas’ run as the Long Beach High School baseball coach came to an end after just 12 games.
Douglas, who worked previously as the head coach at Warren Central, stepped down this week to accept the roles of assistant baseball coach and assistant athletic director at Northwest Rankin after being announced as the Bearcats’ baseball coach on May 1, 2019.
Long Beach has already named his replacement in Garrett LaRosa, a LBHS product who served as an assistant to Douglas during the brief 2020 campaign.
Douglas’ predecessor, Shane Rutledge, stepped down on April 9, 2019, meaning the Bearcats are on their third baseball coach in less than 13 months.
“Less than a year ago, the LBSD conducted an extensive search for a seasoned and proven winner who would dedicate himself to improving the lives of our young men and creating an atmosphere of baseball excellence for our head boys’ varsity baseball coach,” the Long Beach School District said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the person selected has made the decision to leave our program to serve as an assistant coach/assistant AD in another school district. We wish him well.
“This time, we felt it was best not to focus only on a person’s experience and proven success, but rather on his legitimate commitment to Bearcat baseball and to the LBSD community.”
The 2020 campaign was off to a promising start under Douglas with a record of 9-3, but the season was put on hold on March 16 when the Mississippi High School Activities Association suspended all sporting events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 14, Gov. Tate Reeves announced that all school buildings will remain closed for the rest of the semester.
Reeves’ decision puts an end to high school sports in South Mississippi for the 2019-20 school year. All activities have been suspended until June 1.
LaRosa, 26, is a 2012 graduate of Long Beach who hit cleanup on the 2010 state championship squad. He was also a member on the 2011 team that won 5A South State and the 2012 squad that lost to Pascagoula in the 5A South State series.
LaRosa played college baseball as a catcher at Meridian Community College and at McNeese State.
Prior to joining the Long Beach staff, he worked as an assistant at Hancock.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 10:59 AM.
