Todd Pridy and Napa High baseball.
Those words go together like logs on a fire.
The 1989 Napa High graduate is stepping down as the Indians’ head coach after 17 seasons.
They are the Indians by mascot until June 30, 2018, thanks to a decision by the Napa Valley
Unified School District Board of Trustees. Shot fired but I digress.
They are the Indians by mascot until June 30, 2018, thanks to a decision by the Napa Valley
Unified School District Board of Trustees. Shot fired but I digress.
The 47-year old Pridy’s reason for his resignation is based he and his wife, Aine, desiring to
follow their two sons, Jack and Jason, as they play college baseball. Jack, who graduated in
2016, is currently at Sonoma State. As for Jason, who is a current senior at Napa, it’s not
known yet as to where he will be playing.
follow their two sons, Jack and Jason, as they play college baseball. Jack, who graduated in
2016, is currently at Sonoma State. As for Jason, who is a current senior at Napa, it’s not
known yet as to where he will be playing.
Napa finished its regular season with an 8-6 loss to crosstown rival Vintage at the Veterans
Home of California’s Cleve Borman Field. The Indians are currently preparing for the CIF
Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and will learn of their fate either Saturday or Sunday. Napa is
15-12 overall and 9-6 in the Monticello Empire League.
Home of California’s Cleve Borman Field. The Indians are currently preparing for the CIF
Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and will learn of their fate either Saturday or Sunday. Napa is
15-12 overall and 9-6 in the Monticello Empire League.
Pridy was honored in a pregame ceremony that included his family, Vintage head coach
Rich Anderson and Napa High principal Annie Petrie. The former has coached Vintage for
26 years and his teams are long-time combatants of Pridy’s Indians.
Rich Anderson and Napa High principal Annie Petrie. The former has coached Vintage for
26 years and his teams are long-time combatants of Pridy’s Indians.
As of this writing, Pridy’s replacement has not been named publicly but if the choice were
mine, which of course it is not, current assistant Jason Chatham would be the prudent choice.
However, that decision is for the powers that be, not yours truly.
mine, which of course it is not, current assistant Jason Chatham would be the prudent choice.
However, that decision is for the powers that be, not yours truly.
Chatham, who teaches at Napa High, was the head coach of the Rodriguez (Cordelia)
Mustangs and guided them to a 181-139-3 record from 2003-2015. The Mustangs appeared
in consecutive SJS Div. III title games, losing to Benicia in 2011 and beating El Camino in
2012.
Mustangs and guided them to a 181-139-3 record from 2003-2015. The Mustangs appeared
in consecutive SJS Div. III title games, losing to Benicia in 2011 and beating El Camino in
2012.
Pridy, who teaches history, has a lifelong legacy as both a coach and athlete. With the former,
he was just the third coach in 46 years. Clint Smith and Mike Brown were the other two. The
latter was Pridy’s coach. Pridy was an assistant coach for four seasons before taking over
after Brown retired. Pridy has been through peaks and valleys with his teams going 210-216
over the aforementioned 17-year span. The high points were winning the MEL title outright
in 2009 and a share of the crown in 2007 and 2012.
he was just the third coach in 46 years. Clint Smith and Mike Brown were the other two. The
latter was Pridy’s coach. Pridy was an assistant coach for four seasons before taking over
after Brown retired. Pridy has been through peaks and valleys with his teams going 210-216
over the aforementioned 17-year span. The high points were winning the MEL title outright
in 2009 and a share of the crown in 2007 and 2012.
As a student-athlete, Pridy was All-Napa County, All-MEL and team MVP twice, during
both his junior and senior seasons. He was also being named to the All-State team once at
Napa High. The 1988 team won the SJS championship. Pridy batted .476 and led the team
in home runs, runs scored and runs batted in. His .533 average led the 1989 team and he
also led in home runs and RBIs.
both his junior and senior seasons. He was also being named to the All-State team once at
Napa High. The 1988 team won the SJS championship. Pridy batted .476 and led the team
in home runs, runs scored and runs batted in. His .533 average led the 1989 team and he
also led in home runs and RBIs.
Pridy played on gold- and bronze-medal winning teams for the Napa Yankees in the AAU
Junior Olympics in 1986 and ’87. Pridy was inducted into the Napa High Athletic Hall of
Fame in 2004.
Junior Olympics in 1986 and ’87. Pridy was inducted into the Napa High Athletic Hall of
Fame in 2004.
He went on to play at Napa Valley College under then head coach Matt Stewart. Pridy was
named to the All-Bay Valley Conference first team and was the BVC Player of the Year. He
was honored with the Northern California Big Stick award and was chosen to All-Northern
California and Junior College All-America teams. Pridy was inducted in the NVC Athletic
Hall of Fame in 2011.
named to the All-Bay Valley Conference first team and was the BVC Player of the Year. He
was honored with the Northern California Big Stick award and was chosen to All-Northern
California and Junior College All-America teams. Pridy was inducted in the NVC Athletic
Hall of Fame in 2011.
Pridy played independent minor league baseball for the Sonoma County Crushers. Stewart
was on the team’s coaching staff. Among other distinctions, Pridy was the Florida Marlins’
Organizational Player of the Year in 1992 and became a Western Baseball League All-Star
and MVP.
was on the team’s coaching staff. Among other distinctions, Pridy was the Florida Marlins’
Organizational Player of the Year in 1992 and became a Western Baseball League All-Star
and MVP.
He was in the Marlins’ system from 1992-94, playing short-season Class A ball for Erie,
Pa., of the New York Penn League, Class A ball for Kane County, Ill., of the Midwest
League, and high-level Class A for Brevard County of the Florida State League.
Pa., of the New York Penn League, Class A ball for Kane County, Ill., of the Midwest
League, and high-level Class A for Brevard County of the Florida State League.
Pridy made All-Star teams in his two years (1995 and ’96) playing independent baseball
for Salinas of the Western Baseball League.
for Salinas of the Western Baseball League.
He played three years (1997-99) for the Sonoma County Crushers and was the WBL Player
of the Year in 1998 after batting .413. He took a year off and played in 2001, his final season
of pro ball, for Sonoma County.
of the Year in 1998 after batting .413. He took a year off and played in 2001, his final season
of pro ball, for Sonoma County.
I look at Pridy’s decision to step away from coaching in a few of ways. For openers, if I had
a Top Five list of most recogizable names to link the baseball community of Napa and the
name Pridy, I’d put him there without thinking about it. Pridy also did another thing that was
difficult, go from being an elite player to coaching. That transition is seldom easy. Pridy also
coached most of his years in the SJS Div. I level, which is no joke.
a Top Five list of most recogizable names to link the baseball community of Napa and the
name Pridy, I’d put him there without thinking about it. Pridy also did another thing that was
difficult, go from being an elite player to coaching. That transition is seldom easy. Pridy also
coached most of his years in the SJS Div. I level, which is no joke.
Pridy and I are two years apart in age but since we went to different high schools, I only
knew him on the periphery. When I moved back to California after college and became a
sports reporter for 18 years, I had many engaging conversations with Pridy. Most of my
tenure was on the Upvalley beat but he would always jab me about, “We need to get you on
our games.” I felt flattered and covered a few of Pridy’s games. From afar, I respect him as a
human being and as a coach. Win or lose, they competed the same way, straight ahead. Win
or lose, he was also gracious with his time.
knew him on the periphery. When I moved back to California after college and became a
sports reporter for 18 years, I had many engaging conversations with Pridy. Most of my
tenure was on the Upvalley beat but he would always jab me about, “We need to get you on
our games.” I felt flattered and covered a few of Pridy’s games. From afar, I respect him as a
human being and as a coach. Win or lose, they competed the same way, straight ahead. Win
or lose, he was also gracious with his time.
One also has to look at Mount Field at Napa High. Brown did a lot of heavy lifting to upgrade
the facility to respectability. In Pridy’s tenure, the field elevated to looking great. I played
some of my Napa Babe Ruth Games on that field in the mid-1980s. That field had everything
from no fence, potholes the size of the Grand Canyon and if you chased a flyball, you might
dig up a mouthpiece from football practice in 1982.
the facility to respectability. In Pridy’s tenure, the field elevated to looking great. I played
some of my Napa Babe Ruth Games on that field in the mid-1980s. That field had everything
from no fence, potholes the size of the Grand Canyon and if you chased a flyball, you might
dig up a mouthpiece from football practice in 1982.
The other aspect I see is that in the last couple of years, Napa High coaches resigning have
had a negative undertone, most specifically football coach Troy Mott and softball coach
Tammy Mansuy. I don’t want to go into any more specifics publicly than I already have but
it is refreshing that by all appearances, Pridy is walking away on his own accord.
had a negative undertone, most specifically football coach Troy Mott and softball coach
Tammy Mansuy. I don’t want to go into any more specifics publicly than I already have but
it is refreshing that by all appearances, Pridy is walking away on his own accord.
Relevant to wanting to follow his son’s college athletic endeavors, one narrative I constantly
preach is how those who continue to coach after their kids are gone deserve ample praise.
Keep in mind, many youth coaches exit Stage Left after their kids are gone and it’s hard to
fault them. Yes, Pridy is leaving at the same time his youngest son graduates. If anything,
however, I would contend that Pridy stepping away to follow his sons closer is even more
noble than continuing to coach.
preach is how those who continue to coach after their kids are gone deserve ample praise.
Keep in mind, many youth coaches exit Stage Left after their kids are gone and it’s hard to
fault them. Yes, Pridy is leaving at the same time his youngest son graduates. If anything,
however, I would contend that Pridy stepping away to follow his sons closer is even more
noble than continuing to coach.
May Coach Pridy enjoy his son’s continued journey.
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