BRIDGES: Good times for BCA coach

His team had just rallied for a dramatic tie against the defending state champion two classifications bigger.

After talking with his team and with a reporter who covers his squad, Nick Pou walked to the edge of the field and took in an accomplishment even bigger than those he has helped earn on the baseball diamond.

Pou’s wife, Melissa, was standing patiently by holding the couple’s recently born son. One could see the gleam in both parents’ eyes. For the coach, baseball, however important, would always be kept in its proper perspective.

“This is what it’s all about,” Pou said as he held his first child. “It makes it all worth it.”

Melissa smiled at her husband, the coach who is becoming known across the state for what he has done with the Bethlehem Christian Academy program in just a little over a season. She no doubt agreed.

These are good times for Pou and his family. The young coach is building one of the top baseball programs in the Georgia Independent Schools Association. In 2012, Pou guided the BCA Knights to the state semifinals in their first season of full varsity play. BCA did not lose to a team in Class A until the Final Four.

With no seniors on last year’s team, much was expected for the Knights when 2013 arrived. Pou loaded up the non-region slate with powerhouse teams in AA and AAA. He backed down from no one. He found established programs more willing to play him this season after BCA made it mark in 2012.

“Going into last year, no one knew who we were,” Pou said recently. “Now, they know.”

The program made even more news when it tied Tattnall Square in the season opener for both teams. The Knights trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the seventh and then tied the score. BCA was not able to get the winning run across and the game was called after seven innings due to darkness. The teams will resume the game later this season when they play again in Macon.

The success continued Friday when the Knights defeated Windsor, the defending Class AA state runner-up 8-5 in a game played in St. Simons. Another impressive win by for the young program led by the young coach who seems to be on the top of the world.

Already respected at his school and in his profession, Pou is finding that life is good. In fact, developments off the field have the coach saying, “life is great.”

Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can contact him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.