A Freshman Made The Save Of The Year To Ignite Norco's Rise To No. 1 In High School Baseball

Dylan Seward doesn’t transportation for Norco High, though he has nan exceptional limb spot of a closer. He’s nan slick-fielding, switch-hitting shortstop considered among nan apical shot prospects from nan people of 2027.

It was nan summertime of 2024 erstwhile he contributed nan biggest prevention for Norco’s shot program.

For those who don’t retrieve aliases ne'er knew what happened, he was nan 14-year-old freshman who exposed connected a societal media station an effort to oust seasoned caput coach Gary Parcell.

Many parents are acrophobic to spell connected nan grounds against a schoolhouse aliases coach for fearfulness of retribution against their boy aliases daughter, truthful for a teen to spell retired connected nan limb and put himself up to imaginable ridicule was some stunning and courageous.

The station began: “I person ever been advised by my parents to beryllium mindful of what I station online arsenic it whitethorn offend others, impact my estimation aliases shot career. However, aft overmuch thought and guidance, I constitute this station coming to definitive my disappointment pinch nan diversion head and main astatine Norco High’s determination to occurrence coach Gary Parcell aft 35+ years of dedication and commitment.”

Officially, Parcell was ne'er fired. He was being pushed retired and encouraged to retire. It was Seward’s words that alerted those who had been coached by Parcell done nan years to break retired their pitchforks and travel to his rescue.

Seward was only getting started successful his words. “This wasn’t conscionable a occupation aliases coaching domiciled for him, it was overmuch more. He was a coach and mentor to galore generations of young men that came done Norco. He taught america really to play nan crippled pinch integrity, accountability and respect not only for our squad but others arsenic well.”

Junior shortstop Dylan Seward of Norco.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Seward thanked Parcell for giving him nan chance to commencement connected varsity arsenic a freshman moreover though he knew “it wasn’t nan astir celebrated decision,” pinch juniors and seniors resisting.

“The thought of you departing this measurement is horrible,” he wrote.

Seward’s honesty and heartfelt connection provoked action. Parcell sewage his occupation back, allowing him to coach for twelvemonth No. 33 successful 2025 and twelvemonth No. 34 this season.

Last week, nan Cougars clinched nan Big VIII League title and will beryllium 1 of nan favorites to triumph nan Southern Section Division 1 title erstwhile nan playoffs statesman adjacent week. Seward is hitting .443 pinch 39 hits and six location runs.

“I was ace appreciative,” Parcell said of Seward’s support. “The 1 portion that deed maine was erstwhile he came successful arsenic a freshman a batch of group left. They thought I was playing favorites. He was amended than everybody and I recognized it. His capacity is backing maine up.”

What a play it has been for nan 72-year-old Parcell. Norco is 24-3 and classed No. 1 successful nan Southland by The Times.

“The kids are having fun, nan coaches are having fun,” he said. “I’m surrounded by immoderate existent bully coaches that makes my occupation easier.”

He won’t hide nan courageousness displayed by Seward and others who stood by him successful a clip of uncertainty.

“It brought maine to tears,” he said.

The instruction learned is that erstwhile a 14-year-old trusts his instincts and gathers nan assurance and courageousness to show adults nan truth, group will listen. And if they don’t want to listen, showing characteristic makes rather impression. College coaches told maine that summertime they couldn’t hold to beryllium first successful statement to enlistee him.