Larks’ Frank Leo still chasing a title after all these years

As Hays Larks manager Frank Leo was trying his best to explain why he’s been in that position for 41 years, the reason became obvious and went beyond anything he could have said.

In the middle of a sentence, Leo was hugged from behind by Jack Wilson, who played for the Larks in 1996 and 1997 and perched himself in the left field bleachers as Hays knocked off the Fairbanks (Alaska) Goldpanners in a Thursday quarterfinal game in the NBC World Series. Hays plays in the semifinals Friday night.

Wilson was a shortstop at Oxnard (Calif.) Community College at the time. Since those years, he put together a 12-year major league career, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2004, he had 201 hits – 41 doubles and 12 triples – and won the National League Silver Slugger Award.

Wilson is playing with the Kansas Stars, comprised of former big leaguers, in the tournament and was preparing for a game against the Seattle Studs. But he wanted to greet Leo and mention the possibility of a Larks-Stars championship game.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” Leo said to Wilson.

And that, better than anything Leo could say, explains why, at 66, he’s still coaching the Larks. And still coaching the baseball team at Hays High, where he’s been for almost as long.

A native New Yorker from Queens, Leo left the Big Apple for Albuquerque to play junior college baseball. He is a former Lark and loved Hays so much that he decided to get married and raise a family there.

The Larks, too, are his baby. He’s coach and general manager and after four second-placed finishes in the NBC World Series, admits that it would be nice to finally win one.

But that’s not all that drives him. Moments like the one he had with Wilson are the real motivation.

“Our team had lunch with Jack (Wednesday) and he gave all the guys a hug and talked with them,” Leo said. “Those are the moments, for sure. They’re pretty special.”

Hays is 42-10. The Larks won both halves of the Jayhawk League season and swept Dodge City in the playoffs. The franchise has been around since 1946 and Hays has already won the second-most games in its history.

Year after year under Leo’s leadership, the Larks have been a model franchise. You might call them the Yankees of the summer baseball except for one thing – the lack of championships.

In 1996, the Larks built an early lead against Team USA, made up of some of the best college players in the United States, only to lose late thanks to a Mark Kotsay homer.

In 2001, Hays lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Fairbanks. The Larks have also dropped championship games to Liberal (2000) and Lake Havasu, Ariz. (2007).

Once again, they’re close. But can they seal the deal?

“Winning is what motivates Frank,” said Hays assistant Keith Harper, who has been with the Larks for 10 years and coached under Leo at Hays High for 36. “That and playing baseball the correct way. He’s teaching things he learned a long time ago and we’ve just tried to carry it through.”

The Larks’ attention to baseball’s details has been noticeable over the years. They’ve historically pitched well, hit well and defended well.

“I can’t tell you how or why we’re still together,” Harper said of his relationship with Leo. “But there’s something that just clicks.”

Hays’ offense clicked against Fairbanks as the Larks had 21 hits and overcame three errors.

It’s the abundance of defensive miscues, not the hits tally, that I’m sure Leo spent the most time discussing with his team after the game.

“It’s a grind, year after year,” Leo said. “But it’s these players who help keep me going and we’ve had a great bunch this year. It’s the pride in our program. I’m a New Yorker who never left so I guess that tells you how much I like Hays.”

The Larks hosted a reunion to celebrate their 78 years and Leo said around 25 of his players were able to return. It’s one of the best times he’s had this summer.

“When you’re coaching them, you’re in the trenches and you don’t get a chance to relax and enjoy and kid around with them,” he said. “But that reunion weekend was fun because we did get to do some of those things.”

There’s no relaxing now, though. The Larks are again in position to knock down the wall and win one of these things.

“You want to win, there’s no question about that,” Leo said. “But it’s not easy and everything has to go your way. Two more ballgames and maybe we get one. I don’t say we deserve to get one, you’ve got to earn it.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Larks’ Frank Leo still chasing a title after all these years."