Baseball is a game that lends itself to lifers, so the fact that Moeller baseball coach Mike Cameron is in his 51st year with the Crusaders? It's an incredible accomplishment, but maybe not that big of a surprise.

"I know it's special for me" Cameron said. "Moeller has been such a big part of my life, and not only my life but my family's life. I love the players, the parents, the administration."

Where it gets a little strange is Cameron, he of 700-plus wins, four state titles, coached two Major League Baseball hall of famers at the varsity level, is now the junior varsity head coach, in his third year.

"He's well-known around the city" Moeller sophomore Andrew Boudreau said. "He knows so much about the game of baseball, it's an honor to be on his team."

It's an honor Boudreau shares with the current Reds manager, David Bell among others.

"I would look back and think, 'what would Coach Cameron have said here or done here'", Bell said. "He's been a big part of my career, and I know that there are a lot of other guys out there in any walk of life that feel the same about him, he's been a big influence in many many lives."

"I would have never thought 50-some years ago that I was going to coach an all-league player" Cameron said, "much less the manager of the Reds or a couple hall-of-fame players, kind of unreal for me to think that's been a part of my career, I've just been very blessed."

Blessed to have such a legacy and the humility to now coach the JV team, a new generation learning from Coach Cameron.

"He eats, breathes, and sleeps baseball" Boudreau said. "24/7, he's always thinking about it, like he'll go on the weekends and think about it, and even when he's not with us he'll go to the Reds and help out them."

Almost forgot. When Cameron isn't coaching baseball, he's down at Great American Ball Park serving as the Reds official scorer for about 30 games a year. baseball is in his blood.

"I tried fishing" Cameron said, "I was just a cafeteria for the fish, so no."

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