Big times for Ijames: Glenn names baseball field after former coach

Glenn names baseball field after Ijames, former coach
from Mason Linker Winston-Salem Journal and www.journalnow.com

Dale Ijames literally built the foundation for Glenn’s highly respected baseball program, and last Friday, he was honored for that work when the school named its field Dale Ijames Baseball Stadium.

Ijames was presented with a plaque before Glenn’s 8-1 win over High Point Andrews, and signs were posted over the scoreboard and on the press box.

“He was probably as touched I have ever seen him,” Athletics Director Marty Stanley said. “I think he was real grateful we bestowed that recognition on him. I don’t think he knew it until about 15 minutes before it started.

“He should be touched by it because he gave his heart and soul to that baseball program while he was here. He worked really hard to make the facilities look good, make our kids look good and be the best baseball players they could be.”

Ijames took over as Glenn’s coach in 1986. Before he resigned in the summer of 2004, he put hours of sweat equity into the program. He also oversaw construction of the field and later led the fundraising to add lights.

Ijames’ teams won 15 conference titles and a state title, had three state runner-up finishes and made 16 straight playoff appearances. Ijames finished with a career record of 373-104.

Ijames also developed more than 90 college players at Glenn and 26 pro draft picks while coaching at all levels of amateur baseball. He is now a scout for the Kansas City Royals and a coach for the Kernersville Bulldogs, a summer team in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.

A native of Mocksville and a 1969 graduate of Davie County High, Ijames played baseball at Catawba and received his degree in 1973. He then taught at Kernersville Junior High for 11 years and at East Forsyth for two before moving to Glenn.

One thought on “Big times for Ijames: Glenn names baseball field after former coach

  1. I played on Dale Ijames baseball team at K’ville Jr. High in 1975. Even back then he was a very good, hard-nosed coach. I can remember that was the year I learned to bunt. If you bunted longer than everyone else you didn’t have to run the bases and I HATED running the bases!

    Coach Ijames is a great individual who has given all to coaching and the recognition is well deserved!

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