HARRISONBURG, Va. — George Laase is a baseball man through and through.

The Buckeye Local High School graduate is entering his 11th season in the Valley Baseball League, but he has a new stadium and clubhouse to call home for the first time in 10 years.

After a long and distinguished career with the Staunton Braves as a player, coach and manager, Laase, 36, was named associate head coach of the Harrisonburg Turks who compete in the South Division of the VBL, which is based in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

“Staunton had some new owners come in and they wanted to go in a different direction,” Laase explained. “That created a situation … but I understand it’s a business.

“I’ll remember the good times, the good memories and the good players that came through there during my time.”

To stay in anything for a long time, you have to know people.

“It’s all about making good contacts. Making networks and getting yourself out there in case opportunities do arise.

“I thoroughly enjoy everything that the Valley Baseball League stands for. To be able to work with the next generation, to help them chase their dreams in hopes of hearing their names get the call on draft day, it’s what we are all here for,” Laase added. “I am looking forward to working with Hall of Fame Coach Bob Wease and the entire Turks organization, representing all of those who came before and everyone who will come after, as well as the beautiful city of Harrisonburg.”

Laase managed Staunton for the past five seasons, leading it to the playoffs each summer, culminating in a 2015 Southern Division Pennant, Valley League Championship runnerup, and ranking as high as the 7th best team in the country that summer. He also served as an assistant coach for the Braves for four seasons, and played for the Braves in 2003, helping them win the Southern Division Pennant. Two summers ago, Laase was selected to be the pitching coach of the Valley League Prospect Team, headed by Wease, who were co-champions and undefeated in the Showcase Games held in Kannapolis, NC.

Wease said, “It’s an honor and a privilege to have George join the Turks. I’ve watched George for years and he’s a very knowledgeable baseball guy. We’ve worked together during Valley League All-Star games and had a great time at the Showcase Games in Kannapolis. He’s got a true heart for young athletes and establishes good relationships with them. Players respect him and enjoy playing for him. I look forward to having George in the Turks dugout by my side.”

In addition to serving as associate head coach, Laase is also the pitching coach.

“That’s a change, but if you want to be a head coach you have to be able to manage everything,” he acknowledged. “As a pitching coach, you concentrate more on specific duties, such as who is ready and who’s not. Then there’s the pitch count that comes into play. You have to know whether a certain guy is here to just get innings or what their expectations are.”

The Turks play their home games at NCAA Division I James Madison University. Eagle Field at Veteran’s Memorial Park can set 1,200.

“It’s all turf,” he said. “It’s a beautiful facility.”

Laase played baseball at Division II Fairmont State University, where he was a four-year starter at second base, becoming only the 10th player in school history to have a career batting average of .400 or higher.

He is currently employed by Staunton City Schools as the Virtual Learning Coordinator at R.E. Lee High school, where he serves as the head varsity baseball coach, and an assistant coach for football and volleyball.

He re-located to Harrisonburg with his girlfriend and mastiff named Moose.

“It’s only about 40 minutes away, so I’ll still teach at R.E. Lee,” he said.