Guthrie Baseball to honor Coach Willie Young at ’89er Invitational

The Guthrie High School baseball program will honor Guthrie baseball coaching legend Coach Willie Young Friday evening during the ’89er Invitational.

The Young family (wife Gladys and children Kendell, Shannon and Shavon) will be inside Squires Field for the 6:00 ceremony.

Kendell is expected to toss the ceremonial first pitch before the Old Timers Game, which will be followed by the final game of the day between Guthrie and Kingfisher (7 p.m.).

Inside Squires Field, the first base coaches box has been outlined and in-scripted with the number 28 in the middle, which was the jersey number of Coach Young.

Willie Young, who passed away at the age of 65 in July 2016, was an educator for Guthrie Public School for 28 years beginning in 1975.

Simply known by everyone as Coach Young — he coached several sports throughout his career at the junior high and high school level for the Bluejays.

He also served as an athletic director primarily at Guthrie Junior High School.

Baseball was his true love.

In 2011, he was inducted into the Sunbelt Classic Hall of Fame for his many years of coaching elite baseball players from around the state.

Jays head baseball coach Casey Porter is inviting all former players and the public to the stadium and help celebrate Coach Young.