That booming voice was unmistakable on Monday as the Brunswick High School baseball team opened its spring season for catchers and pitchers.

Craig Rogers, the man who led Mt. Ararat baseball for over a decade, has decided to make his return to the diamond. He has crossed the “Bridge” to rival Brunswick, with the game that he loves beckoning him for a return.

“I kind of got another spark, and the opportunity here at Brunswick, a school that supports its athletics. They gave me that chance,” said Craig. “I have always loved the game of baseball. I thought this would be a great opportunity here to build a fresh program, a great starting point, and looking forward to the challenge of getting Brunswick back up and going again.”

It seems like a long time ago that Craig coached his sons — Scott, Brett and Mark — at Mt. Ararat, with his Eagle teams winning back-to-back Eastern regional titles (2003-2004) and advancing to the State Class A championship, falling both years to a talented Deering team.

Mark and his 96-mile-an-hour fastballs had pro scouts at nearly each of his games, and when the Major League Baseball draft came about in 2004, Mark was selected fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers. It was an exciting time.

“What I remember the most that there was three or four years where the whole school got involved in the baseball program,” said Craig, who compiled a coaching mark of 106-67, including playoffs, at Mt. Ararat, leaving the bench after the 2010 campaign. “A lot of kids from the student body were attending, and we were having up to 70 kids try out for the team. It brought the whole school together. I would like to do something like that in Brunswick.”

Brunswick struggles

Luke Potter coached the Dragons for the last few seasons. Though Brunswick went winless last year, the Dragons showed their talent on most days and came within a whisker of winning several contests.

However, Craig is unfazed from last year’s struggles, coming into the program with fresh ideas and a lot of positive energy.

“I don’t know all the kids here, which is a good thing. I have no preset lineup and it will be an entire evaluating process. The toughest part of my job will be reevaluating the kids and taking advantage of everybody’s skills,” Craig said. “That was one of the big reasons I came back here. It is a good sport. I don’t look at last year.

“Last year is last year. My goal is to bring an attitude and atmosphere into the program and for the kids to set the bar individually high on themselves. My job will be for them to reach their goals. If all the kids set high bars, and the coaching staff can put them in the right direction, we will get there.”

Things in Craig’s life have certainly changed over the past eight years. He now has five grandkids, and with Mark living in Arizona, Craig jokes that he is often juggling multiple challenges at the same time.

“I can’t say it’s relaxing being a grandfather, and it is tough to find that time to do the lobstering, to coach. I’m building a new boat right now, and keeping track of the family,” said Craig. “Time goes by fast, and I want to give it one more shot. I want to put my heart and soul into this program. I want to sit back at the end of it and say, ‘I did my the best and I hope it was good enough.’”

Craig will have some help from his family.

“Mark will be flying in from Arizona and be on the coaching staff. He will have a lot to offer. Hopefully that will trigger some more enthusiasm and get the program pointed in the right direction. This is 2018, a whole different deal,” Craig said.

With these new challenges, Craig still looks back fondly on his days coaching at Mt. Ararat.

“It was a lot of fun over at Ararat, both as a parent and coach,” said Craig. “I have coached a lot of kids in baseball and hockey. Bottom line, once you’re a coach, it never leaves your blood. I still attend a lot of high school and college games. To be a good coach, you have to be a better observer. (Brunswick AD) Jeff (Ramich) is a great observer and gives good advice. I want to be approachable and be the guy who learns as much as his players.”

Brunswick is slated to open its regular season on April 18 at home against Cony.