| 19 | Orleans is indeed fortunate to welcome Coach Nicholson back for his 17th summer here – his 13th as Field Manager, the longest tenure for an Orleans skipper in the “modern era” (1963-present). Kelly (or Coach K as he’s known in the pitching fraternity) is a native of Corona, California where he won numerous scholarathlete awards in both baseball and basketball while in high school. He was a four-year letterwinner and two-time all-conference pick during his pitching career at Loyola Marymount University. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from LMU, he began his career teaching mathematics at Loyola High School of Los Angeles, while completing his master’s degree in education from LMU. He was the head coach of the Loyola HS Cubs for eleven seasons, where he led the team to seven playoff appearances and a league title. Kelly then spent three seasons as Loyola Marymount’s pitching coach, and each year the Lions won the WCC title and went to the NCAA regionals. In the summer of 2000, Kelly worked with the Team USA pitching staff in its early preparation for international play. Kelly joined Orleans as the pitching coach in 2001. In 2002, Coach K’s staff had a 2.11 ERA (the best ever by Cardinals pitchers) and in 2004 it led the CCBL with a 2.37. His 2003 championship pitching staff was lights out, with a 2.36 ERA and a league-leading 397 Ks in 401 IP. All told, Kelly’s pitching staffs have led the CCBL in ERA an astounding 7 times. Kelly Nicholson Field Manager, Orleans Firebirds ORLEANS FIREBIRDS 2017 YEARBOOK OrleansFirebirds.com Co-winner of the Hossfeld Spirit Award with Coach Steve DeBlasi in 2004, Kelly became the field manager in 2005, and was the unanimous choice of his fellow managers for the CCBL Mike Curran Manager of the Year Award after leading the Cardinals to a record-setting 30-win season and the championship. Coach K was again named Manager of the Year in 2008 as his squad finished the regular season in first place overall (25-17-2), but a heartbreaking 1-0, 18-inning loss to the eventual CCBL Champion Harwich Mariners ended the team’s playoff run. Under his leadership, Orleans is a perennial playoff contender. In 2015, Kelly led the Firebirds to a franchise record of 31-12-1 (.716) and again was named the CCBL Mike Curran Manager of the Year. Coach K’s overall regular season winning percentage of .570 leads all active CCBL Managers. It’s no surprise to anyone who knows him that Kelly enjoys the respect, affection and admiration of his players, fellow coaches and colleagues here and around the league and in the wider baseball community; he’s a favorite around town, having made countless friends over the years. Orleans fans know they’ll see a first class team on the field every summer with Kelly at the helm. Kelly established his “ABC” or Academy of Baseball and Character, where young players “learn to play the game the right way.” We can attest to that. Orleans welcomes a true gentleman and a terrific leader back for his seventeenth summer. Kelly is engaged to Donna Barney and resides in Playa del Rey, CA. �� CAREER SEASON RECORDS Wins Losses Ties % 2005* 30 14 0 .682 2006 22 21 1 .511 2007 23 20 1 .534 2008 25 17 2 .591 2009 25 17 2 .591 2010 23 19 2 .545 2011 24 17 3 .580 2012 22 22 0 .500 2013 24 19 1 .557 2014 24 18 2 .568 2015 31 12 1 .716 2016 20 23 1 .466 Total 293 219 16 .570 * won CCBL Championship REGULAR SEASON RECORD VS. OPPOSING MANAGERS Chad Gassman (Hyannis) 21 11 0 0.656 Hyannis (pre-Gassman) 9 7 0 0.563 Harvey Shapiro (Bourne) 22 26 0 0.458 Wareham 33 14 1 0.698 Jeff Trundy (Falmouth) 33 13 2 0.708 Mike Roberts (Cotuit) 29 17 2 0.625 John Schiffner (Chatham) 35 35 2 0.500 Steve Englert (Harwich) 44 26 2 0.625 Scott Pickler (Y-D) 30 41 1 0.424 Jamie Shevchik (Brewster) 6 4 2 0.583 Brewster Whitecaps (pre-Shevchik) 31 25 4 0.550 Total Reg. Season Record 293 219 16 0.570 POST SEASON RECORD VS. OPPOSING MANAGERS John Schiffner 6 2 0 0.750 Harvey Shapiro 2 3 0 0.400 Tom Myers (Brewster) 2 1 0 0.667 Scott Pickler 2 12 0 0.143 Steve Englert 4 3 0 0.571 Mike Roberts 0 2 0 0.000 Total Post Season Record 16 23 0 0.410 PHOTO BY MATT DWYER
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