CLEMMONS, N.C. — 25-year-old Coach Harrison Vaughan was just eight days into his new job at Calvary Day School in Clemmons when he died from flu complications.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman heard from Harrison Vaughan's father and some of his players.
The first game of this season was supposed to be the first game of Coach Harrison Vaughan's career. He was recently hired as the head coach of the Calvary Day varsity baseball team. Instead of celebrating a 9-1 win on the field with his team, he was likely looking down with pride.
"This is his first win. I know he wasn't here but he is still the head coach of this baseball team. This is his first win, he would be so excited, I don't think he'd sleep 'til about 3 o' clock in the morning, he'd be talking about it," Father of Harrison Vaughan and Assistant Coach, Erik Vaughan. "I'll tell ya, one of the hardest things for me is when I was standing on 3 base for a period of time cause that was his spot. That's where he was gonna be this year and I was gonna be looking across the field from first base to him. He would be ecstatic."
Harrison Vaughan went to Calvary and played ball there, he wore jersey number 5. There's now been talk of retiring that jersey in his honor. For opening night and the rest of the season, Senior Beau Baity wore/will wear number 5 proudly.
"It's an honor. It is a pure honor to represent him and the man he was. He has taught me many different things that I will take on in life, in the future, he has guided me and directed me," Baity said.
"They’ve said that maybe they’ll retire that number but Beau Baity has been part of this program. He loved my son, my son loved him. For him to play the way he did wearing #5, we are honored to see him do that all season long," Erik Vaughan said.
Baity and his teammates, like Matthew Harrell, admit this has been a trying time for the team but that working together to get this win, was all for Coach Vaughan.
"Coming out here ready to work, stepping on this field, remembering the legacy Coach Vaughan left, it just means a lot to come out here and get the win for him," Harrell said.
Through their sorrow, teammates are determined to make it a season worth remembering, "we've had a tough week, but this family begins today. I am proud and honored to be with everyone of you guys, it's gonna be a great year… it's gonna be a great year…" Erik Vaughan said.