“I assume everyone has kind of a short list of places that interests them, and Fenwick was one of those for me,” said Maus, 39. “I’ve always been impressed with the facilities, the players they had talent-wise, the way they carried themselves and the overall community.”
Moving from a bigger school to a smaller school isn’t a typical career path, but Maus said he doesn’t look at it that way. He’s a product of Catholic schools, graduating from Badin in 1992, and he’s looking forward to competing in the Greater Catholic League.
The short driving distance between Lakota East, where Maus is a social studies teacher, and Fenwick also played a role in his decision.
“Obviously Fenwick being part of the GCL is a draw,” Maus said. “I told them in the interview process that I like to coach. It doesn’t have to be at a thousand-boy school. I want to be in a situation where the kids and the community are invested in baseball. That’s how it was at Talawanda, and that’s how it is at Fenwick.”
The Fenwick job came open when Bob Sherlock resigned after four seasons to take over at St. Xavier, where Bill Slinger was the head man for the last 35 years.
Sherlock, 53, led the Falcons to the GCL North Division championship last spring, the program’s first such crown since 2008. Fenwick won two sectional crowns during his tenure.
“I wish Pete the best,” Sherlock said. “Certainly we’ve had our share of games against one another over the years, and he’s won most of those. I think he’s going to inherit a really good situation at Fenwick, and it’s hopefully going to get even better under his watch.
“I’ll be excited to follow them. Hopefully that culminates like we’ve always wanted it to — with a state title.”
Maus is a 1997 Thomas More College graduate (with a degree in secondary education/history) who spent six seasons as a Lakota East assistant before going to Talawanda.
As a junior at Badin in 1991, Maus scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Rams a 2-1 victory over Coldwater in the Division III state championship game.
“My family’s been happy for me,” Maus said of trading Badin green for Fenwick crimson. “It’s unique, but it’s also a challenge. Badin has a long history of being really successful. Fenwick’s done pretty well also.”
The Hamilton resident said it wasn’t easy to leave Talawanda, where the Braves were consistently competitive under his direction. Maus took Talawanda to the Division II regional semifinals in 2006.
“I have nothing but positive memories of my time at Talawanda,” he said. “We wanted to develop into an every-year program that was going to be respected in our league and Southwest Ohio and at the state level, and I think we did that. We made people think twice about playing us in the tournament.
“I think the kids that came through our program enjoyed it and became better baseball players and, more importantly, better people. I know I’m a better coach and a better person for having those kids come through.”
Sherlock said he had mixed feelings about leaving Fenwick, calling it “one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.”
“I love Fenwick. I will always love Fenwick,” he continued. “The people out there were some of the best people I have ever met anywhere. What they did for me and my wife and the way we were treated out there was first rate in every way.”
Sherlock said he was approached by individuals connected with St. Xavier about that job opening. He’s very familiar with the GCL South Division.
“I spent 12 years in the GCL South with Moeller, and I thought, ‘Maybe I do need to look at it,’ ” said Sherlock, who lives in Liberty Twp. and teaches social studies at Princeton. “I guess everyone should look at their professional situation and aspire to the highest level possible.”
At Talawanda, the search for a new head coach has started. Interested candidates should contact athletic director John Thomas at 513-273-3201 or thomasj@talawanda.org.
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