Ten years ago Tommy Sprague was a star pitcher at Dr. Phillips High School dreaming of a professional baseball career. As a boy in Dr. Phillips, Sprague excelled at all sports but was a perennial all star at the Little League. He won the game that gave Dr. Phillips its first District Championship. Then one day in high school, the force from one fastball tore his rotator cuff.
An operation repaired the tear, but even after a year of rehab Sprague couldn’t throw like he used to. His arm was fine for normal activities, but the extra zip he needed for his fastball was gone. He was 17 years old and had no plan for his life that didn’t include baseball.
Mike Marchell, a family friend and long-time Little League manager, asked Sprague to help coach his team.
“I didn’t want to do it at first,” Sprague said. “But I found that I connected with the kids right away.” The experience completely changed Sprague’s outlook on sports.
Sprague continued to coach Little League while attending Valencia Community College. In 2005, Sprague coached first base when Marchell managed the first Dr. Phillips Little League team to win the major division District Championship. Mike said Sprague’s coaching was a key reason they won. “The players looked up to him, and worked hard at what he taught them.” In 2008 Sprague managed his own All-Star team to his own District Championship.
That year Sprague received his degree in physical education from FSU and returned to Dr. Phillips in the fall to a job as a phys ed. teacher at his old middle school, Southwest. Even though he was now on the faculty, at first Sprague still called his former teachers by their last names. Now that he’s been a faculty member for four years, he’s on a first name basis with everyone.
Today at age 27 Sprague is a rangy six footer who still looks like the star athlete he was in high school. He’s been married for two years to Jessica, also a school teacher. They live in the same neighborhood where Sprague grew up.
Sprague coaches the girls’ soccer and boys’ volleyball teams at Southwest Middle School. This year both teams won their cluster, and the girls soccer team advanced to the Orange County championship, losing a very close game on penalty kicks.
“These were the first teams I’ve coached where all the students were with me from sixth grade on,” Sprague said. “It was cool to see them develop into champions this year, and for girls’ soccer to have the experience of playing on a high school field under lights. They achieved the goals we set at the beginning of the year.”
Sprague still coaches 11 and 12 year-olds at the Dr. Phillips Little League. “The best feeling for me is seeing a boy I’ve worked with execute something I taught,” Sprague said. “I feel I’ve achieved more when a player I’ve worked with all season gets his first hit than when I was winning All-Star games.”
He and his wife also give back to the community by leading sessions for Southwest Orlando Wyldlife. The group provides a safe, chaperoned environment where middle schoolers can socialize. Wyldlife meets every other Friday night during the school year and holds special events during the summer. Sprague said, “We meet in the Southwest but we’re open to students from anywhere.” People can get more information at the Southwest Orlando Wyldlife page on Facebook.
Sprague hopes his story can be a positive example to others. He said “I want people to realize that a small effort can have a big impact. It all starts with helping people in your community. It’s easy to give, and you get so much back.”
