Randy Smith: Honeycutt Tournament A Family Affair

Eight years ago, Dizzy Dean Baseball began the Rick Honeycutt World Series in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Honeycutt, currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers is never there for the event. He is in the midst of his 13th season with the Dodgers and is considered to be one of the very best pitching minds in baseball. 

We all know Frederick Wayne Honeycutt's story. He attended LFO and played college baseball for the University of Tennessee. He spent 21 seasons as a standout reliever playing for eight different teams. His most famous gig came when he was the set up guy out of the bullpen for Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley with the Oakland A's.

The annual Honeycutt tournament is partially being played at the Rick Honeycutt complex in Fort Oglethorpe. I have attended the first two days of the tournament watching my youngest grandson, Boone play for the East Brainerd Hurricanes. The first game the Hurricanes played was against the Chickamauga Dodgers, coached by........Ricky Honeycutt, Ricks' son. In the first games of the tournament each team prepares gifts to exchange with their first round opponent. Ricky's opponents received a Rick Honeycutt autographed baseball. How cool was that?

Ricky was a very good baseball player but chose to play golf instead. His opportunities to hit the links have been limited because of coaching his sons in baseball. " I 'm planning to qualify for the state amateur event but golf has taken a back seat," Honeycutt said this week.

Ricky and his dad have always been close and it's tough to be apart as much as they are during baseball season. " Dad had back surgery during the off-season and his back is okay, but his legs are really hurting. They're still giving him a lot of trouble but it's easier to deal with when you have the best record in baseball and you're running away with your division."

As I was standing against the fence talking  with Ricky Honeycutt, I noticed a pretty blonde who looked very familiar to me. When she spoke to me, I recognized her right away. Dana Mull, the highly successful softball coach at Gordon Lee high school was there to watch her son Reed play for Honeycutt's Dodgers. Reed is the grandson of UTC softball coach Frank Reed and is an outstanding young player. Dana also has the summer coaching bug as she coaches her daughter's summer team; recently crowned as the national champions in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

All this means two things. The cycle of great athletes and coaches continues and the Rick Honeycutt World Series is most definitely a family affair.