WEST LAFAYETTE ― Former Tri-County assistant baseball coach Mark LeBeau learned a thing or two about winning.
His father Craig was well known for putting together competitive American Legion teams in Remington and was a player of Tri-County’s lone state baseball title in 1998 before joining the Cavaliers coaching staff, led by older brother Jeff.
LeBeau has spent his last four years in Tippecanoe County as well because of job opportunities and being closer to family based in West Lafayette.
After three years as an assistant at West Lafayette, LeBeau is poised to inject that winning culture into the Red Devils after being announced as the next head baseball coach on Monday, Sept. 15.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some pretty amazing people to rely on and I look fondly on those years,” LeBeau said. “From my dad, he taught me how to connect with players, and we were really successful.”
West Lafayette looks to rekindle a program that has won nine sectional championships, but hasn’t captured a title since 2011.
“Westside has always had a tradition of good baseball,” LeBeau said. “There’s some good kids that I enjoy being around. I’m excited about the opportunity.”
The Red Devils are also coming off two consecutive losing seasons while utilizing a lineup comprised of four freshmen: shortstop JJ Whitford, infielder and pitcher Braylon Crisp, outfielder and pitcher Korbyn Keen and catcher and first baseman Calvin Snyder.
With a youthful lineup that also included returning junior outfielder Colin Kastens, LeBeau inherits a team that carries the experience needed to challenge 2025 Hoosier Conference champion Twin Lakes and yearly state 1A contender Central Catholic.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: West Lafayette new head baseball coach Mark LeBeau carries Tri-County tradition
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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