By Kyle LoJacono
Mason Woodside was hired as Freedom’s new baseball coach July 17, taking over a program coming off its first postseason berth.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity at Freedom High School,” Woodside said. “I believe through hard work and preparation, we can continue to build a very good baseball program.”
Woodside, 25, comes from Steeleville High in Illinois, where he was also a physical education teacher and served as the school’s athletic director.
“First of all, we were looking for a good teacher, which he is, who is also a good baseball coach” said Freedom athletic director Eli Thomas. “He came highly recommended and we’re confident he’s the person for the job.”
Woodside coached American Legion Baseball in his hometown of Pinckneyville, Ill. for three years before leading the Steeleville program for two seasons.
The Patriots’ new skipper had already moved to the Tampa Bay area when he learned of the coaching and teaching opening while on the Hillsborough County schools website.
“From talks with my principal (David Sheppard) I feel like there is a lot of potential to grow and develop the student-athletes at Freedom to become not only good baseball players, but also good people,” Woodside said. “I am very big on my players being role models for other students, as well as being well disciplined themselves as a student-athlete.”
Woodside replaces A.J. Leppla, who resigned in June following three years at the helm while compiling a 34-37 record. The Patriots went 15-10 last season, including a playoff berth as a district runner-up.
