INMAN, S.C. – Matthew chapter 23 and verse 12 states, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
During Steven Fusaro’s time as the Chapman High head baseball coach, that verse has been embroidered on the back of the hats worn by coaches and players alike, serving as a focal point for the program from varsity all the way down to the youth league. This past weekend, Fusaro’s 11th and final season at the helm came to an end in the district round of the 3A playoffs. It was announced last week that he would be stepping down at season’s end to pursue a long-term career goal of serving as a principal. Following the conclusion of Saturday’s playoff contest, Fusaro paused to reflect on his time at the helm of the baseball team. “The last 11 years have been a dream. It’s been my dream job at the place I’ve loved more than anywhere. It’s been at the place that has believed in, grown, and accepted me. It’s been very special; I’m not going to lie about that. It will always be a very special time in my life, but I know that God’s plans are much greater than my plans.” “The plans that have come about over the last month or so, I’ve just prayed to be obedient and to be humble through it all. I’m trusting (the Lord). I’m so blessed to have been part of these young people’s lives for this many years and the impact they’ve made on me – I hope they understand – is far greater than any impact I’ve made on them.” With the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Panthers will see six seniors graduate – Jarren Metcalf, Cason Owens, Jacob Cogdell, Devin Roe, Johann Rodriguez, and Jack Settle. The group has left an enduring imprint on the Chapman baseball program. “They were part of a team that took us back to the state championship for the first time in 20 years. They’ve got a chance to go on and play at the next level because they are really good players. More so than that, it’s been fun to watch them grow as people. I know that our kids (in the program) know, but I hope that the rest of this community knows that this program is not just about raising ballplayers. “It’s been about trying to raise quality young men who are going to be future husbands, fathers, and community leaders,” Fusaro continued. There’s no doubt in my mind that those six are going to have the opportunity to be part of this community for a long time and be impactful.” The Panthers baseball team has some foundational pillars that were put into place and have continued to increase as the past few years have progressed. Fusaro also deflected credit for the sustained success of the program to someone who has been there since the beginning of the 2013 campaign. “This program was filled with love for people, this community, this school, and these kids. This thing was built on relationships that will last a lifetime and I hope these guys understand that. We’ve had success on the field and that’s great, but I hope they realize and understand how much I love this place. I don’t think there’s many 38-year-olds who love Inman, South Carolina and Chapman High School as much as I do. That’s been bittersweet through all of this to know that I’m not going to be part of it, and that’s hard.” “Another big piece of this has been (pitching coach Jason) Settle. I’ve not coached a game without Coach Settle. This program would not be what it is without Jason Settle. Coach Settle and I have been together (on the coaching staff) for 11 years, pouring into this community. I know he feels exactly the way that I do about it as far as his love for the community, kids, and school. It’s been an absolute honor to coach with him, but more so than that, to have someone like him as my friend.” During his 11 years as head coach, the Panthers compiled 162 victories. Over his last four full seasons, Chapman earned four top-two region finishes, two region championships, two district titles, and an Upper State crown while accruing over 350 wins as a program (spanning the varsity, junior varsity, and C-Team levels). As he prepares to move on to the next chapter of his life and career at Chesnee Middle School as an assistant principal that was confirmed by a Spartanburg District Two announcement on Tuesday, Fusaro expressed how much the school has meant to him, along with his optimism for the future of the program. “The thing I want everybody to understand is that (Chapman) is special. It was special before me and it’s going to be special after me. There’s a lot of really, really good people and kids here. Our coaches are second to none. I know that just as God had plans for me and my family, God has planned this whole thing for somebody else and their family. “I just pray that person comes to the forefront, and they continue to take this program and push it forward. We’ve done some great things, but there’s always improvement to be had. I’ll be cheering for these young people to continue to push it forward.” Comments are closed.
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