At Lower Richland, A Gold Glover Takes Over

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Hopkins, S.C. — A former major league infielder is coming back to coach his alma mater. On Monday, Columbia native, Lower Richland alum and former Red Sox infielder Pokey Reese was introduced as the newest head baseball coach at Lower Richland High School. “This is really where it got going for me,” Reese said at his introductory press conference Monday. “It (Lower Richland) helped me get to the next level.” Reese played professional baseball from 1997 to 2004, with stints at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in his final season in the MLB. Reese had taken time off after retiring from baseball to spend time with his family. But he developed an inch to coach and reached out to his former high school. “I told them I was ready to get back into coaching,” said Reese. “I told them I wanted to start anew and get this program back to where I think it should be.” Now Reese is choosing to share everything he’s learned about the game with students at Lower Richland. “I’m trying to teach, and I hope these kids can learn a little from me and get to the next level,” said Reese. “I want these kids to get to college, and there are plenty of opportunities now for these kids and hopefully I can be a part of that.” Reese won two gold gloves in his career, and last played baseball in 2008 for Triple-A Columbus.