When not on the road or in the studio with Mastodon, bassist-vocalist Troy Sanders can be found on the diamond coaching Little League baseball — a role he's received Coach of the Year honours for.
In January, Sanders was named one of 36 regional winners of Regional Baseball Coach of the Year honours by the Positive Coaching Alliance. Selected by the organization from a group of over 500 nominated coaches across the country, Sanders is both the Little League coach and league president in the city of Indian Rocks Beach, FL.
"I was not expecting it and knew nothing about it until I received the email letting me know I was selected," Sanders said of the Little League honour, sharing how nominations were submitted by parents of 10 of his current and former players. "To have what I feel is the most natural way to coach and lead these young players recognized outside of my own circle, it helped me feel like I am doing at least something right for these kids and it just felt exciting to be recognized in this way."
An announcement of Sanders's selection posted on the Little League website features zero mention of his musical achievements, but it does tell of the artist's longtime commitment to baseball, having played Little League from ages five to 14. After watching his then eight-year-old son play in the stands for two seasons, Sanders began volunteering his time by "working in the concessions stand, assisting his son's coach when needed, and providing snacks for the team."
Sanders's involvement led him to become a coach and team manager "to take on the 'mentor' role in not just his son’s life but in the lives of kids throughout the community."
He reflected, "Once I started as an assistant coach, it felt like a very natural and authentic progression. My son was very interested in baseball, and still is, which has allowed me to be super close to the game and a very active volunteer. There's nothing I love more than coaching Little League."
You can read the complete announcement of Sanders's achievement via Little League's website, where you'll also find a photo of him in action as an umpire. Until his highlight pack surfaces, we'll be wondering how good (or bad) his first pitch would be.
As previously reported, Sanders and Mastodon will line up alongside Lamb of God for a co-headlining North American tour later this year, where the band will play their celebrated Leviathan album in full. The band's most recent full-length is 2021's Hushed and Grim.
