BYU first base coach Trent Pratt, proper, fist bumps a participant throughout a Cougars baseball recreation. Within the wake of Mike Littlewood’s resignation, Pratt now the Cougars’ interim head coach. Jaren Wilkey, BYU Picture
In a matter of hours, Trent Pratt went from a longtime assistant and third base coach to the person accountable for BYU baseball. Even on an interim foundation, Pratt has extra management of a crew than he has ever had — and his former boss believes he's prepared.
“Trent is likely one of the most educated baseball guys I’ve ever been round,” mentionedformer BYU baseball head coach Mike Littlewood. “He understands the sport at a degree deeper than most ‘baseball’ folks.”
Littlewood resigned final week citing private causes. Whereas he hasn’t provided a lot about his abrupt departure 29 video games into his tenth season in Provo, he has lots to say about his alternative.
“Trent is a grinder in each facet of faculty baseball,” Littlewood mentioned. “He’s a tireless recruiter and spends hours and hours of particular person time with hitters and catchers. He is likely one of the finest folks I do know.”
Littlewood, Pratt and assistant coach Brent Haring received 262 video games collectively at BYU, together with WCC championships in 2016, 2017 and 2019, with Littlewood incomes WCC Coach of the 12 months in 2019. Pratt was additionally at Littlewood’s aspect for six seasons at Dixie State, the place they received 181 video games collectively.
“There have been a handful of sequence at Dixie that I missed as a result of I used to be working March Insanity (as a basketball official) and Trent took over throughout these instances,” Littlewood mentioned. “He has the expertise on the school degree of being a head coach on the sphere.”
Throughout his surprising debut final week at Nebraska, Pratt guided the Cougars (20-13) to wins in three of 4 video games, with every one determined by a single run. BYU is 10-3 towards Energy 5 packages, together with a 10-3 win at Utah (20-14-1) on March 15. Pratt will get his first style of the rivalry recreation Tuesday night time when the Cougars and Utes meet at 6 p.m. MDT at Smith’s Ballpark.
“I've recognized Trent since he was within the eighth grade and I used to be teaching on the Mountain West Baseball Academy,” Littlewood mentioned. “He was enjoying shortstop, however coach Steve Cramblitt and I noticed qualities that will make Trent an unbelievable catcher.”
Pratt switched positions and his recreation took off. He performed two years at Auburn and two years at Arizona State earlier than being drafted within the twelfth spherical of the 2002 MLB draft by Philadelphia.
“As quickly as Trent was completed enjoying and expressed an curiosity in teaching, I introduced him on at Dixie instantly,” Littlewood mentioned. “Till you sit on the seat as the pinnacle coach, you actually can’t perceive all that's concerned. However Trent is a really clever man and can determine issues out shortly.”
Along with his new interim head teaching duties and training third base, Pratt retains a detailed eye on his favourite place — and the 2 freshmen who're creating behind the plate.
Collie Reuter, from Olive Department, Mississippi, has 26 begins. Mason Sturdy, from Santa Clara, Utah, has six. They're each the current and the long run for BYU baseball because the Cougars end up competitors within the WCC subsequent yr earlier than becoming a member of the Huge 12 on July 1, 2023.
“Trent is likely one of the finest catching instructors within the nation,” Littlewood mentioned. “And he has a novel method of taking a hitters’ particular person strengths and constructing upon them. He has a watch for figuring out weaknesses and works with them at a private degree to get probably the most out of every hitter.”
Ozzie Pratt matches that mildew. The freshman second baseman from Oxford, Mississippi, leads the crew in hitting with a .329 batting common.
Along with shedding Littlewood, BYU is with out Andrew Pintar, who was misplaced for the season (shoulder) and received’t have dwelling run hitter Cole Gambill (foot) again in proper area for a number of extra weeks. Each Pintar and Gambill had been named to the All-WCC Preseason Baseball Group.
The highest six groups within the WCC qualify for the convention event in late Could with the winner receiving an computerized berth into the NCAA Event.
BYU is 6-6 in league play and three video games behind second place San Diego (9-6) and LMU (9-6). The Toreros play a three-game sequence in Provo beginning Thursday. The Lions play at BYU Could 19-21 in the course of the last week of the common season.
Pratt’s help workers stays intact with Haring, a 14-year assistant for Littlewood, pitching coach Michael Bradshaw, director of baseball operations Tuckett Slade and pupil assistant coach Noah Hill all nonetheless within the struggle.
“I actually felt like I had the perfect workers in America. Bar none,” mentioned Littlewood.
Regardless of the teaching change and the accidents, the Cougars nonetheless have lots to play for, and for Pratt as interim head coach, he could also be enjoying for a complete lot extra as BYU seems to the long run. This can be a second he has been making ready for, each on and off the sphere.
“All of our former gamers know him they usually have been so good to us. They're the principle cause why the amenities are what they're and why the product on the sphere is what it's,” Littlewood mentioned. “This system merely can't survive with out the help of the donors and former gamers, and I do know Trent understands that.”