Next Pitch, Next Chapter: A Laker Father/Son Story Written on the Diamond

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families across the lakeshore are preparing to celebrate the men who have served as mentors, teachers, and steady anchors. But for Spring Lake varsity baseball coach Eric "Kip" Kipling and his son, Maddux, this Father’s Day hits a little differently. It marks the conclusion of a lifelong dugout partnership and the beginning of a rare new chapter.

Maddux, a senior who recently walked across the graduation stage, has officially signed to play Division I baseball for the Michigan State University Spartans. In a district where signing a Big Ten athletic scholarship is a highly celebrated, rare feat, Maddux didn't reach this milestone alone. He did it with his lifelong pitching coach, varsity assistant, and dad right by his side.

For Kip—a longtime teacher in the district and a former standout Division I pitcher himself for Central Michigan University—the journey has been a masterclass in balancing the roles of coach and father. For Maddux, it has been the privilege of a lifetime.

The "Hat Rule" and the Sponge

The dynamic between a father who coaches and a son who plays can often be a tightrope walk. To keep the boundaries clear, Maddux’s mother, Betsy, instituted what the family calls the “hat rule” early on.

The concept was simple: when leaving the field, if Maddux kept his baseball hat on, it meant he wanted to keep talking about the game. If the hat came off, baseball talk was officially done for the day, and Kip was strictly back to being "Dad."

"The funny thing is, Maddux’s hat always seemed to stay on," Kip laughs. "He has always been a sponge. From the time he was tiny, he wanted to learn, ask questions, understand the game, and find ways to get better. He is truly a student of the game, and that made coaching him a really easy and special experience."

Maddux echoes that sentiment, recognizing early on that he had a unique resource sitting right at his kitchen table. While many high-level recruits search far and wide for expensive private pitching coaches, Maddux’s mentor lived under the same roof.

"My dad’s experience playing Division 1 baseball has given me access to a level of knowledge that I don’t take for granted," Maddux says. "I can talk to him about pitching anytime, whether it's mechanics, pitch selection, preparation, or the mental side of the game. Over the years, I have had other pitchers tell me how lucky I am to have that kind of resource right at home, and I completely agree."

Mindset and Sacrifice

As Maddux grew into his frame and developed the physical tools required of an elite prospect, the conversation between father and son shifted. It evolved from a teacher-student dynamic into a true strategic partnership.

Kip passed down the foundational pillars he used during his own playing days at CMU: Attitude and Effort. But as the college recruiting process heated up, they added a third pillar: Sacrifice.

"Maddux learned that achieving a goal at this level takes more than talent," Kip explains. "It takes putting in extra time, making choices that aren’t always easy, missing out on some of the typical high school experiences, and doing the hard things now so that someday you can do special things. That sacrifice becomes part of your lifestyle."

That lifestyle produced a stone-cold competitor on the mound. As evidenced by delivering a clutch performance sealing a massive strikeout against rivals Fruitport in the District Finals, Maddux developed a reputation for staying utterly locked in under pressure.

When asked about their secret to handling the high-stakes environment of varsity baseball without letting it strain their bond at home, both father and son point to a simple mental philosophy.

"Play one pitch at a time until the game ends," Maddux says. "At the end of the game, the past is the past, no matter what the outcome."

Kip expands on this: "Staying present makes the game simple. Nervousness and anxiety usually come from being focused on something other than the moment you are in. When you stay locked in on the present, you can compete with clarity and then leave the game where it belongs, on the field. We always tell ourselves: control what you can control—your attitude, your effort, and your breath. And if things get tough, the mantra is simple: next pitch."

Shaking Off the Coach

That shared mental language created an uncanny synchronicity during games. With Kip helping call pitches from the dugout, Maddux often felt like they were operating with a shared mind.

"Having him in the dugout gives me confidence because I know he believes in me," Maddux says. "When I am on the mound, I feel like I am able to think right alongside him as he calls pitches. That trust makes the game feel calm and comfortable."

But what happens when the son disagrees with the dad on a 3-2 count?

"There are only a few times each season when I have felt strongly about throwing a different pitch than the one he calls," Maddux admits. "But he has always given me the confidence and freedom to shake him off if I believe in something different. That trust has helped me become a stronger pitcher mentally."

Green, White, and Maroon

With Maddux officially bound for East Lansing to compete in the Big Ten, a subtle house divided dynamic has emerged—at least on paper. Kip remains a proud Central Michigan Chippewa alumnus, but he wasted no time updating his wardrobe.

"I obviously have the better school… so there really hasn’t been much trash talk needed," Maddux jokes.

"In all seriousness, from the moment I decided to become a Spartan, my dad has been nothing but supportive. Even though he played at Central, he immediately became a huge MSU fan. In true dad fashion, he showed his support by buying plenty of Spartan gear, and even adding some green and white shoes to the collection."

For Kip, trading the maroon and gold for green and white is a small price to pay for a front-row seat to his son's dream. "I’m proud that he has built this journey through his own hard work, commitment, and sacrifice," Kip says. "When Maddux puts on that Spartan uniform, I’ll be in the stands wearing green and white."

A Legacy Left in the Dugout

When twenty years pass and the box scores of the 2026 season fade into memory, what will this father and son cherish most about their time in the Spring Lake dugout?

For Kip, it isn't a specific win or a spectacular stat line. It’s the quiet spaces within the game. "The moments I treasure the most are the conversations while he’s warming up, the chats between innings, and the time we get to spend together around the game," he says. "It has been such a joy to watch and be a part of it."

For Maddux, the defining memory of his final high school season actually took place before the first pitch was ever thrown.

"One of my favorite memories was before the season even started, when my dad and I built the bat and helmet rack for the dugout," Maddux shares. "Designing it, building it, painting it, and putting the 'SL' on the front is something I’ll never forget."

In a fitting tribute to a family that has poured so much into the program, that hand-built rack is slated to be moved to the new Hickman Field dugout permanently, serving future generations of Lakers. Much like the lessons of attitude, effort, and staying present, the physical mark they made together will remain long after they have both moved on to the next pitch.

Happy Father's Day to all of our Laker dads, and congratulations to Maddux on an incredible high school career. East Lansing is getting a great one.