ST. CLAIRSVILLE – There are times in life, where you come across a person who isn’t in something for the glory or the adulation. They’re simply in it for the love of the game.

Meet Fred Williams.

Anyone who has been to, or has been involved with, a St. Clairsville Post 159 baseball game, the past 18 years or so probably knows him.

With his easy-going, laid-back persona, Williams, at the surface, looks to the be just ”the guy that keeps the book” for Post 159. But he’s more than that.

Evidence of such could been seen during this past week’s Ohio American Legion State Baseball Tournament in Lancaster, which Post 159 was playing in for the first time.

Sure, Williams was ”keeping the book.” But he was also encouraging, mentoring, assuring; pretty much doing everything a coach should do.

“It’s rare that you find a guy willing to come back and coach after he’s been through it once years earlier,” St. Clairsville Post 159 Manager Chops Jacob said. ”But that’s what Coach Freddie, as the kids call him, decided to do. And Post 159 is the better because of it.

”He’s a great role model for our kids. He does anything you ask.”

And, even though Post 159 was eliminated in two games at Beavers Field, Williams had a ball.

”It’s just a joy to be around the boys,” he said. ”For them to be successful and to be as good as they’ve been the past two years has been a true pleasure.”

Williams’ joined forces with Post 159 in the late 1990s when Bruce Myers reorganized the post’s baseball team again. Williams’ son, Brent, played on the squad, so he started helping on a plethora of ways.

”I just started giving him a hand,” Williams remembered. ”He needed some to take care of the bench, kind of run the bench.

”I’ve been there ever since.”

Williams has been a steady presence for St. Clairsville, providing guidance to generations of players through two managers. When Jacob assumed the managerial duties a few years ago, there was no question he wanted to keep Williams on staff.

”The team has the utmost respect for him and he teaches more than just baseball,” Jacob said. ”He’s big on respect, attitude, hustle, team first. He keeps the book, but he does so much more.

”He’s a great listener and offers valuable wisdom and advice.

”Post 159 is truly blessed to have him in the dugout.”

This week, Williams kept the book. Then, at the end of each inning, hollered down the dugout to check on the pitch count. After jotting that down, he’d shout some words of encouragement for the next inning.

Williams admits he sometimes get too emotionally involved in the game, many times having to check with one of the players on a missed play.

”The boys keep me in the line,” Williams laughed.

But for the most part, Williams stays focused. He, Jacob, and assistant coaches Mike McGrath and Mike Muklewicz are a tight group and work closely to ensure things go smoothly.

”The enjoyment of being with the team this year has been the tops,” Williams said. ”It was a great year. We had four or five guys that have been with us four years. It was emotional to see them go.”

While the Legion season has ended, Williams’ work with St. Clairsville sports hasn’t. A volunteer with The Saints Club, Williams helps supports St. Clairsville High School athletics. In addition to that, the 36-year coal miner is looking forward to spending time visiting his son in Arizona and his daughter in Clarksburg.

”He’s helped me more than he ever would acknowledge,” Jacob said. ”He’s a very humble guy, and funny to boot. He has made the past four years so much more enjoyable. He’s a great coach and a great friend.”

If you know of someone involved in sports in the Ohio Valley whom I could feature as an Ohio Valley Unsung Hero, drop me a line at rthorp@timesleaderonline.com or via Twitter at RickThorp1