Lloyd Skoda - Mobile’s Pioneer of Baseball
By JOEY WARNER
After graduating from Mary Montgomery in 1967, Lloyd Skoda was a 19 year old student at the University of South Alabama when he realized that he was going to become a baseball coach.
Through 2008, Skoda had an overall record of 780-209 in 33 years as a high school baseball coach, which includes 11 state championships at Faith Academy and two at Daphne high, where he spent nine years.
In 2003, he was selected to the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Skoda attributes his success to his wife Elaine; prayers of friends and family; work ethic; outstanding coaches; and dedication from players and parents.
Skoda’s coaching staff teach by responsibility and doing things together. He credits John Bell for doing a great job as the hitting instructor and says Matt Seymour is good with people and does a variety of things to help the baseball program.
Skoda had never heard of Faith Academy before Bill Binch asked him if he wanted to coach at Faith. Binch has been at Faith Academy with his kids and grand kids since the school started in 1969. He still announces and is the scorekeeper for softball, volleyball and basketball.
"When I started coaching at Faith Academy on Lott Road, there were 49 boys in the entire high school and I did not know anything," Skoda said. "I have had the favor of God in my life and the neat thing about it is that he puts people in your life."
"I did not how to coach but I have had really good people like Buddy
Howard at Faith Academy and Steve Savarese at Daphne that have had a big influence on me."
Skoda credits Ernie Rosseau, a former player for Eddie Stanky at South Alabama and professional player for motivating him. Skoda helped Rosseau with proper throwing motions and it inspired Rosseau
to learn more about the proper techniques and mechanics of hitting. Skoda and Rosseau worked together to revolutionize their love for baseball.
"I put a tremendous value on leadership and I get a lot of advice from my players and it builds a huge trust factor," Skoda said. "Our players take ownership in their trust and it is the number one issue in my coaching philosophy."
Skoda teaches kids about baseball and he believes the championships will come when you do the right things but he teaches kids more about life.
"This school is a big family and you can't talk about this school without Faith and this is why we put it on our jersies," Skoda said. "There is a purpose for every school in this town and we are not a private school; we are a christian school."
Skoda said that Faith provides a quality christian education and it teaches the principles of the bible and stays away from controversy.
"We don't jam it do wn the kids' throat but we use the bible as a reference," Skoda said. "There is wisdom for relationships in the bible and we teach it to help make better people in life."
"I enjoyed my time at Daphne but at Faith I have more freedom to be who I am," Skoda said. "Loving the kids and appreciating the administration and teachers creates a great atmosphere for me at Faith."
Skoda said if a player loves baseball then Faith Academy is the place to be. Kids get run off if they don't love it because Faith does not get burned out with its baseball.
"It is hard but the kids come in with the expectations that they can go to another level," Skoda said. "Our kids are going to have opportunities and advantages to become a better player with better facilities."
Another advantage is that the coaching staff at Faith Academy spends a lot of time with its younger kids.
"We develop players to win championships with the right things," Skoda said. "We learn about baseball but we learn more about life."
Skoda said his team this year has a lot of experience and talent. The Rams, who were 26-11 last season, will have a very strong pitching staff and some good sticks, who hit .349 as a team a year ago.
Senior Michael Meredith, a University of South Alabama signee, will start at shortstop. Meredith hit .412 last year with 14 doubles, 28 RBIs, 33 runs and 10 stolen bases.
Junior center fielder Tyler Hayes hit .413 with 9 doubles, 32 RBIs and 14 stolen bases last season. Senior Steven Upchurch, who has committed to Auburn and is a professional prospect, is one of the top pitchers in the South. Last season, Upchurch had 83 strikeouts in 69 innings and hit .364 with 28 RBIs. Senior Quinn Nichols, was 6-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 2007, is coming off an injury but will play a major role on the pitching staff.
Senior Randy Bishop is one of the top prospects in the state and one of the top 100 in the Country. He is coming off of an ankle injury that sidelined him but is almost full strength. Recently, he was clocked in the low nineties consistently at the Under Armour Perfect Game Showcase in Tucson, Arizona. Bishop has committed to Pearl River (Miss.) Community College.
Junior Tyler Richburg will handle catching duties. Junior Bryant Howell will pitch and play outfield. Junior Ethan Stanford and senior Blaine Hayaski will be part of the pitching staff. Senior Trey Ellis will play outfield and sophomore Adam Sessions will play third base. Zach Binch, Taylor and Tyler Kiernan will also see action for the Rams.
“We don’t make any promises but kids come into this program with the expectations to make it to the next level,” Skoda said. “I may be accused of a lot of things but our kids are going to have opportunities and be see n and they have to show what kind of player they are.”
