By Brad Greer

South Panola head coach Patrick Robey walked up the narrow concrete steps leading from Tiger Field Thursday morning with his son Walker just as he has done countless number of times over the past ten years.

That however would be the last time as the Tiger’s skipper as of  Wednesday morning, Robey accepted the head coaching job at Lafayette Co. High School.

Robey will replace former Commodore head coach Greg Lewis who accepted the assistant principal’s position at the school.

“I have talked to coaches who have been in the business a long time and ask them when do you know it’s time to move on and most of them said you’ll know when the time is right,” said Robey.

“I hate to use an old cliche’ but they made me a offer I could not refuse. It was not so much financially but I am looking into the future possibly going into administration as this would be too good to pass up,“ said Robey.

Lafayette Co. competes in Region 2-4A and finished with a 19-13 record this past season while advancing to the third round of the North State playoffs before losing to eventual state runner-up and district rival Lewisburg.

Robey said the toughest part for him was telling his now former players at South Panola about the departure.

“I think I took it harder than the kids did. You kind of know what you’re going to say but when it gets time to face them it becomes harder. Change is always tough but it’s not always bad. I think this program now is in a position to do some great things.

“Just by the look in their eyes, these kids are hungry for a championship and if the right person can come in here and has a lot of energy about him, there is no telling how far this team will go next year,” said Robey, who led the Tiger to the post season five of the last six seasons.

South Panola junior pitcher Hunter Ivy said he nor any of his teammates had any indication of his former coach’s departure.

“He (Robey) acted normal all day and then he called us together after Summer camp and told us he was leaving. It is going to be different with him not around that is for sure. He has always been there for us and I am sure always will be. He has always pushed us to be the best we as players can be. We went through some crazy times during  games that I will never forget. He has been a good coach and we are going to miss him, “said Ivy.

Ask one thing Robey said he would miss is the interaction with the players he coached in his tenure.

“It’s the kids I am going to miss the most. I have always felt like they were my own kids and I love each and every one of them. Also I want thank the Batesville community and the South Panola family for treating my wife Ginger and I so well throughout the years,” said Robey.

South Panola opens up Summer baseball Tuesday at home against Water Valley. The Tigers will visit Lafayette Co. and their former coach June 19 and again on the 26th as the Tigers host the Commodores.