By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A pair of head coaches from the same family tree in Jackson County is once again making an impact on the prep baseball scene in the “Southern Six” from one end of the spectrum to the other. 

Both Aron Frederic at Resurrection High School and Neil Frederic at Harrison Central have guided their squads to the South State baseball playoffs for the second straight season. The Eagles begin defense of their back-to-back and consecutive Class 1A state championships Friday night at home against Noxapater, while the Red Rebels are currently finishing up regular season action in the Region 4-7A wars but have already secured a berth in the first-ever Class 7A playoffs which start next week.

Last year, in Aron’s first year at the helm of RCS and Neil’s sixth at HCHS, both squads made the playoffs with successful and related head coaches in charge in a bit of a rarity in South Mississippi prep circles.

Aron is a 1991 graduate of Pascagoula High while Neil followed in his first cousin’s footsteps at PHS and graduated in 1994.

“He and I are similar in age, and just like any other kid in Pascagoula you just grew up around the game of baseball,” Aron Frederic said. “It’s unique for both of us to be coaching our teams in the playoffs. He and I have similar styles and philosophies on the game. Respect the game. Play it the right way. Emphasis on the small things.”

Aron guided RCS to its second consecutive Class 1A state championship last season in his first year at the helm of the Eagles. He was an assistant coach for the Eagles for several seasons before taking over amidst trying times upon the sudden death of new head coach Lee Tingle before last season started.

This year, the Eagles went 10-0 in Region 8-1A and won their seventh consecutive league crown as they aim for an unprecedented third straight state title for the first time in school history in any sport. Resurrection possesses a state-wide best 48 game region win streak.

“Baseball and the Frederic family are entrenched with passion, respect, resilience and leadership,” Neil Frederic said. “This great game has taught me to fight day in and day out. We Frederic guys didn’t pass the eyeball test but we did everything in our power to play the game the right way and be great teammates. No surprise that they are having success with Aron in charge. He knows the history of Pascagoula and Resurrection and will work his tail off to continue that legacy. They have been the last team standing numerous times and I know he will lead the charge to do the same again this year.”

Neil is in his seventh season as the HCHS head coach, after coming in from Center Hill High in North Mississippi where he spent six seasons in the same capacity.

Harrison Central started the season off with some issues of its own this year, having to play its first 13 games away from home due to unexpected renovations of its home field.

But despite that  inconvenience, the Red Rebels have been right in the thick of the first-ever Class 7A South State playoff chase and to this point are the only team in Region 4-7A to beat league-leading Ocean Springs twice this season.

“Neil has done a tremendous job with his group this year,” Aron Frederic said. “He’s done it under the circumstances of having to practice and play away from his home field, and done so despite being in a very competitive district.”

After starting at Pascagoula High during his playing days for several seasons, Aron went on to play on the next level at both Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as well as Delta State. Neil, meanwhile, followed on the same path as after his playing days contributing to the Panthers he moved on to also play at Perk as well and then Belhaven College.

“I owe so much to Aron. When I say I wanted to be Aron, man do I mean it,” Neil added. “I looked up to him like my brother. I wanted to be his shadow. Life has gotten busy with jobs and families among other things but I know we love each other with every ounce of our hearts.”

Aron admits that while many may think the two are brothers, they are first cousins that have a brotherly-like relationship.

And one man that has witnessed the relationship up close and personal both off the field as well as the playing and coaching success on the baseball diamond of the Frederic clan is Johnny Olsen. Olsen was both Aron and Neil’s head coach at Pascagoula High and then each served as his assistant coach at different stops as well with first Neil at PHS and then Aron at RCS.

“Both played for me and coached with me, and I owe them a lot when it comes to the success that we had at PHS and RCS.” Olsen said. “They were both very good players but even better coaches. They are like family to me. I’ve known their parents since I was a child growing up and we have had a lot of memorable times on and off off the field. They are both really special to me and I’m so proud of the success they’ve had.”