Shelley Notches 300th

Adrian Shelley’s 300th win as Ephrata’s baseball coach, a 6-2 defeat of Cedar Crest on April 14, came and went quietly.

It shouldn’t have. It’s an indication of how consistent the Mounts have been in baseball during Shelley’s 23 years coaching his alma mater.

His teams have won 10 section titles, four Lancaster- Lebanon League titles and District Three championships in 2016 and 2018.

“I feel fortunate to be where I am,” Shelley said Monday. “We have one of the top outdoor and indoor facilities probably in the state. We have a very strong youth program.

“The key to it is two things. One, being stubborn enough to persevere, and, two, being fortunate enough to have coachable teams and players.”

Shelley actually has 325 career wins, including two seasons at Cocalico.

He played at Ephrata and at Frostburg State, for one year under legendary coach Bob Wells. Then he became a graduate assistant coach at Frostburg and planned to go into college coaching.

There was an elementary teaching job open at Cocalico, and Shelley’s mother, Linda, urged him to pursue it just for the experience of being interviewed. He surprised himself by getting the job and became a head varsity coach at the age of 23.

Linda, now deceased, was a longtime, multi-sport coach and official. Adrian’s Dad, Scott, has coached football and baseball at Ephrata and is now his son’s assistant.

Adrian’s father-in-law is Mike Williams, the Manheim Central football coach.

“We’ve talked a lot about coming back to your alma mater, building a program and leaving it in better shape than you found it,” Shelley said.

“It’s the urge to build something in the community you grew up in.”

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