BY JEFF FALK
Coming off the worst season in program history, the Cedar Crest baseball program is headed in a new direction.
Recently, the Cornwall-Lebanon board of education approved athletic director Rob Snyder’s recommendation of Josh Brown as the high school’s head varsity baseball coach. Former coach Ryan White resigned over the summer, after the Falcons endured a 5-15 spring.
Brown is a 1997 graduate of Lebanon High School. He and his family now reside in the Cornwall-Lebanon school district.
“I always wanted to be a high school coach,” said Brown. “Cedar Crest has a great program. I’m going to take it over and get it back to where it was. I preach an aggressive style of baseball.
“I knew it was open,” continued Brown. “I was really thinking about applying. There’s a lot that goes into it, but being off (from work) over the winter, I can take care of the administrative things.”
After starring for the Cedars, Brown went on to play at Division Two Lock Haven, where he earned a degree in outdoor recreation management and leisure commercial recreation management. Brown has coached baseball at Lock Haven, Lebanon High and Lebanon Valley College.
“I did have a lot of friends at Cedar Crest,” said Brown. “Some became some of my closest friends. I live in the Cedar Crest school district. You kind of grow out of those stages a little bit.
“I’m excited,” Brown added. “We’re going to do a lot of good things, a lot of different things. It’ll be a lot different kind of baseball.”
Cedar Crest is home to one of the most storied baseball programs in Lebanon County, as well as one of the most successful programs in any sport in Lebanon County. But last season, the Falcons struggled mightily.
“I see the program as being in pretty good shape,” said Brown. “There are some adjustments that need to be made in the younger levels. A bump in the road? It could’ve been. We have a lot of talent, a lot of good kids.”