Dobbins pilot covers all bases

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew J. Park
  • 94th Airlift Wing
Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia --  Just before 9 a.m. on a July Saturday morning, 1st Lt. Rick Hagauer, a 700th Airlift Squadron pilot, clenches a to-go cup of coffee in one hand and a bucket of baseballs in the other and makes his way down a grassy embankment toward a baseball field at Hembree Park in Roswell, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, a group of adolescent baseball players begin to arrive carrying an assortment of worn-leather baseball gloves and colorful aluminum baseball bats.

“Coach Rick” has a long history of playing baseball that dates back to when he was an adolescent in Peachtree City, Georgia where he played travel baseball for Home Plate, a local team that competes in national baseball tournaments. He also began work as an umpire at 15 years old and continued to do so throughout his college years at the University of Georgia. In college, however, his career aspirations shifted from professional baseball to aviation.

After making several moves for pilot training with the Air Force, he landed in Roswell with a career as a pilot for both Dobbins Air Reserve Base and EasyJet, a British commercial airliner. Leaving little free time to play baseball, Hagauer got his baseball fix by following the Atlanta Braves.

“I keep up with every Braves game,” said Hagauer. “My wife, Jenny, will tell me 162 games plus the 30 spring training games is a little obsessive, but it's like a mind puzzle to me; I look at it like a game of chess, and though I have no power over what happens, it's just fascinating for me to watch and strategize.”

Hagauer eventually shifted from spectator to participant, although in a slightly different manner than he originally expected.
Jenny Hagauer works for the City of Roswell and heard that the Roswell Recreation and Parks department was seeking volunteer coaches for the upcoming spring season.

“I wanted to get back on the baseball field and I thought I could really influence kids, especially ones getting ready to go play high school baseball,” said Hagauer.

As promising as it initially sounded, Hagauer had to decline the offer as a result of his military obligations, which at the time included Exercises Saber Junction in Italy and Eager Lion in Jordan.
As summer approached, however, the need arose for coaches once more, so Roswell Recreation asked Hagauer if he would consider an assistant coaching position with the Roswell Renegades, an all-star team that competes in various baseball tournaments around Atlanta. Hagauer accepted.

Haugauer has proven to be a valuable resource for the Renegades, bringing his unique perspective to the team.

“Rick brings a different perspective than the dads,” said Allen Harris, Roswell Renegades head coach. “He’s a lot younger than the dads that are helping out with the team, so he relates really well with the kids. He brings a lot of baseball knowledge, and they listen and respect what he has to say.”

Reflecting on his experience and life-long passion for baseball, Hagauer identifies the key to his success that gives him a unique perspective on baseball. He has –quite literally – covered all the bases of the sport as player, umpire, and coach.

“I guess coaching was just like the third piece of the triangle,” said Hagauer. “It's hard to say which I like better because even as a kid playing the game I was always thinking one or two moves ahead and making suggestions to the coach. But it's safe to say, I miss playing, and coaching has been very rewarding.”

As Saturday morning practice at Hembree Park comes to a close, a few players take turns hitting balls into the outfield. After watching a few players, Hagauer decides to take a swing. He hits a ball well over the fence line. Watching the ball soar, he displays the kind of smile only shown when engaged in a lifelong passion. Still smiling, he hands the bat to the next batter in line and takes his position off to the side where he gets a better vantage point of the young batter’s swing to advise him on how to swing for the fences.