Bob Sauders: Leading the Mountville Indians One Last Time

By Adrian Eschenwald

September-October 2024

There’s a reason why Hempfield High School excels in baseball and is this year’s PIAA state champions. Programs like the Mountville Indians youth (12U) baseball team provide the school with talented players coached by the likes of Bob Sauders, who has led the team since 1988 and will relinquish that role at the end of the season. 

Bob Sauders rallies players on the Mountville Indians youth baseball team on game day. According to the team’s website, the stars on the boys’ caps (“Mountville Stars”) are awarded to players by the coaches based upon a player’s attitude, effort, improvement and execution of various game fundamentals. They are given to reinforce the techniques learned in practice, build confidence and promote team pride and unity.

After more than three decades, Bob Sauders has announced that this season will be his last time serving as the coach of the Mountville squad, which competes in the Lancaster County Youth Baseball League, various elite tournaments in the mid-Atlantic region and an annual 104-team tournament in Cooperstown, New York. As he closes out his career, players, parents and members of the local baseball community  are saluting Sauders for his unwavering dedication to the program and teaching young athletes on the sandlot. Think about it, some of the boys Sauders originally coached are nearing the age of 50 and probably have children who have played for him. “Sometimes you just get the sense that it’s the right time,” Sauders says of the decision he made last fall. “You don’t want to hang on too long. I’m sure I’ll miss it when I get out, but you want to stop while you’re still enjoying it.” 

Although he had always been fond of baseball and gained some experience coaching in the instructional baseball program beforehand, Sauders reports he never planned to become a coach for the Indians. He explains that he stepped up to the plate when his son, Rob, became old enough to join the team, which was looking for someone to put at the helm. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention and they picked me,” Sauders jokes. “I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy the coaching aspect of it.”

Despite coaching for multiple decades, Sauders says he’s still learning as he wraps up his final season with the Indians. His coaching method focuses heavily on the strategy of baseball and his practices have often incorporated simulations of different scenarios players could find themselves in out on the diamond. “I really want to teach players the game of baseball, not just hitting, throwing and catching,” Sauders notes. “I try to push them a bit in that regard and teach them to expect the unexpected.” Through the years, he’s also stressed to his players that baseball is a team sport. The team’s website succinctly states that philosophy: “I believe that no play or player can win or lose a game for us.” 

Sauders credits the duration of his career to the abundant support of parents, players and other members of the youth baseball program in Mountville (including the Mountville Youth Athletic Association), as well as the encouragement from his wife, Deb. “I’ve been very fortunate. You couldn’t coach this long without that kind of support,” Sauders says. Deb, who writes a blog on the team’s website, shared an observation earlier this summer that explains why Mountville’s Indians have been so successful for so long. “Over the years, Bob and I have been surprised to hear time and time again that landing a spot on the Indians team is something many of our community’s young ball players dream of from an early age. And we’re told they don’t just dream about it. For years, many work on improving their baseball mechanics to better their chances of making the team when the time comes. Many forego other opportunities hoping to make their dream become reality.”

Adrian Eschenwald writes for the community newspapers – Merchandiser, Advertiser and Pennysaver – that are published by Engle Printing & Publishing. Townlively.com.