AMHERST – Leading a team to the semifinals isn’t new for G.P. Gromacki.
The Amherst College women’s basketball head coach has brought the Mammoths to nine NCAA Division III Final Fours, winning three national championships.
His latest semifinal trip isn’t with his team in purple and white, though. He’s traded a suit and purple tie for khaki shorts and an Amherst baseball T-shirt.
Like the past few summers, Gromacki is coaching his son Derek Gromacki’s Little League baseball team. The top-seeded Amherst 12U All-Stars will face No. 4 Belchertown in the District 2 semifinals Monday at 5:45 p.m. at Mill River Field in Amherst. It’s a rematch of the final game of pool play that Amherst won 7-4.
“It’s just a lot of fun. It’s just a joy to be around them and to help the Amherst community,” G.P. Gromacki said. “We all support each other. So I’m pretty excited to be out here.”
Gromacki was a “decent” baseball player in high school but mostly relies on his coaching acumen and relationship building. It gives him a chance to spend time with his son, sometimes a rarity during the hectic basketball season.
“This is kind of my downtime from my other job. I really can put the time in,” he said. “It’s a lot more than just me. A lot of volunteers in the community come out and support us and help make this happen.”
He has to pick up his Little League charges more often than the Mammoths, and he’s teaching the fundamentals of a sport rather than fine-tuning systems.
“They can get down on themselves a little bit more. It’s a different game, obviously, that’s the biggest thing,” G.P Gromacki said. “There are definitely differences just because of the age but, you know, it’s all competition.”
He’s a welcome leader for Amherst.
“He’s really amazing. He has lots of good plays,” Amherst’s Brady Klaes said. “He knows what to do, how to teach us, and not like too hard but knows what to do and when to do it.”
Derek also appreciates having his dad there.
“It’s fun, him coaching the team,” he said.
As much as G.P. Gromacki is teaching Amherst, he’s learning from the team as well.
“They teach me to enjoy what you’re doing,” he said.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.