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Sinness Tabbed To Lead Sebring Softball

FIRST-TIME HEAD COACH TO EMPHASIZE STRENGTH

File photo/Highlands Today

Joe Sinness has been named the Blue Streaks’ new head softball coach, taking over for 14-year veteran coach Lee Tolar.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: June 25, 2008

SEBRING — Building up confidence and helping an athlete reach their potential is the reputation Joe Sinness has forged during his tenure at Sebring High School, but a new challenge is just on the horizon.

Sinness has been named the Blue Streaks' new head softball coach, taking over for 14-year veteran coach Lee Tolar, and inheriting one of the top programs in the Heartland.

"We've got so much talent on this team," Sinness said. "We're returning the whole starting core, and the expectations are high for next season."

Tolar stepped down in May after 14 years at the helm of Sebring.

Sinness got the fever to try his hand at head coaching after the softball position became available. He immediately spoke with a number of the incoming senior players who he assists with weight training during the off-season to gauge their interest in him applying for the post.

"I told the girls what I had to offer, and that I really wanted to be their coach," Sinness said. "They all said they'd love to play for me."

This will mark the first time that Sinness has been a head coach in a team sport (his background is as an assistant football coach and girls weightlifting coach) but the new skipper feels that his background in baseball and working with other coaches will help to make up for his lack of experience.

"Baseball and softball share many of the same fundamentals," Sinness said. "The game strategy is where I'll be learning while on the job. I've already received offers from other coaches to help me get up to speed.

"I'm really excited and nervous about my new position. I've already started recruiting girls that used to play softball before they entered high school, and they've agreed to play."

Sebring athletic director Terry Quarles said there were a lot of qualified candidates who applied for the job, but she felt that Sinness was right for the job.

"It doesn't bother me that he's never been a head coach in a team sport," Quarles said. "Joe has been the coach of our girls weightlifting team and also has been around the volleyball and football teams, and he'll work closely with assistant coach Larry Johnson, who is invaluable to the program.

"I have no doubt that he'll do an excellent job."

To help with the nuances of the game, Sinness worked with South Florida Community College head coach Carlos Falla on Tuesday during a softball clinic, where he picked up some useful tips that can translate into wins when the season starts.

"Carlos has been really nice and offered to help me all he could," Sinness said. "I'm going out for his clinics and I'll also join the SFCC team for their fall schedule, while [former softball coach] Hoppy Rewis has offered his assistance as well. It's nice to be able to fall back on such knowledge of the game that those two possess."

One major change that Sinness has brought to the Blue Streaks softball squad is an emphasis on weightlifting and conditioning that he hopes will not only translate into more power at the plate but also cut down on injuries and increase stamina.

"We've got so much talent on this team," Sinness said. "I want to harness all that potential and take them one step further.

"A lot of new coaches inherit a problem team or the talent level isn't up to par. Lee [Tolar] didn't leave the cupboard bare by any means. We've got the potential right now to go far in the playoffs."

Sinness has many of his girls on a three-day a week training schedule where the players work on everything from weightlifting to endurance running to keep them in shape during the off-season.

"Many of these girls are not multi-sport athletes, so it's important that they work out in the offseason to keep in shape," Sinness said. "Then there isn't such a shock to the system when softball season comes around."

After watching from the sidelines for so many years, Sinness tried to picture what it'll be like in his first game as head coach.

"I know I'll be a little nervous," Sinness said. "But with the talent we've assembled on this team, I really want to just compliment what's already there. They're still the ones who have to win ballgames, but I'll give them all the tools they need to win."

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