Tradition, hard work, and the idea that small plays sometimes change significant moments have always been at the core of Charleston Catholic's baseball program. Few alumni better exemplify these attributes than Andrew Hines, Class of 2003. His time on the field at CCHS shaped his baseball career and offered many life lessons well beyond the game. Hines' journey into baseball began well before he donned a green and white uniform. His father, Eddie Hines-a former college player-introduced him to the game when he turned five years old. From there, baseball became a family tradition and a personal passion. Growing up in late the '90s and early 2000s, Andrew admired pros like Nomar Garciaparra, whose outstanding batting performance and hallmark routines inspired many young hitters. He also looked up to Omar Vizquel, a defensive master whose skills fueled Hines' own dreams of making memorable plays. When Hines transferred to Charleston Catholic his sophomore year, he entered a program led by the legendary Head Coach Bill Mehle, now in the WVBCA Hall of Fame. Hines credited Mehle's calm and steady leadership as shaping him both as a player and as a person. Hines reflected, "Coach Mehle had a unique skill set for relaxing a situation. Baseball is slow in nature, but moments can speed up on you really fast. He knew how to bring me back to center and remind me of the bigger picture." That bigger picture led to a pivotal moment in Hines' career: Charleston Catholic's first trip to the State Tournament, achieved with a thrilling victory over former Matewan High School. He remembers the game clearly-the perfectly executed drag bunt that landed him on first base, a clutch double from one of the Burton brothers, and his own confident choice not to slide into third. "Coach Mehle may have had his first heart attack when I calmly strolled into third," Hines joked. "But that team achieved more than the entire state believed we could." Although injuries prevented the Irish from winning a championship that year, Hines takes pride in the fact that his class helped establish a standard that would pave the way for four state titles over the next thirteen seasons, with most red For Hines, lessons from baseball reached well beyond the field. Today, this military leader draws clear parallels between the sport and his service. “Baseball is a long season, with ups and downs, just like life,” he said. “You can’t win alone. It takes teamwork—both on the field and in the military. No one is bigger than the team.” These lessons sharpened his view on challenges, persistence, and leadership. Baseball taught him, he notes, how to deal with failure, reset, and move forward-skills that have served him well during high-pressure situations in his military career. That is what The Class of 2003 Graduate wrote in as his senior quote marking his legacy: “I can bunt.” Simple, straightforward, and unexpectedly meaningful. For Hines, bunting was more than a baseball tactic, it was a principle. "It means I can play a small part in the larger success of the team," he explained. Whether it is baseball, work, or life, focusing on the small things presents the opportunity for major accomplishments. "Returning to the basics must be a guide-not just for baseball, but in real life." Years later, Hines looks back on what the sport gave him: resilience, clarity, and the ability to face life's challenges. "Life is full of hard times," he said. "Baseball didn't prepare me for everything, but it helped me manage stress and stay grounded." Today, as CCHS baseball continues to build on a rich history, Andrew Hines stands as a testament to what makes the program unique: family, fundamentals, and players who recognize that even the most minuscule moments-a perfectly placed bunt-can leave a generational impact. Written by Thomas Ryan