Cleaning out the office and breaking the news to players really drives home the finality of a resignation from a coaching position.

Chris Parker guided the first Cascade team ever to reach the state tournament. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Chris Parker made the decision to leave his post as head baseball coach at Cascade for the same spot at Blackman last week and has since had time to reflect.

"I just feel like in my heart it's something that I'm ready to do and anxious to do," said Parker, who compiled a 114-63 record over five seasons. "This place will always be home."

Parker remains on campus in Wartrace regularly as he leads his 16-under summer team, which is comprised primarily of Cascade Champions. Some players had tears in their eyes when he informed them that he's heading to Murfreesboro.

"It touches your heart and lets you know deep down that you feel like you've done a good job," Parker said. "We're always in the kid business and that's one thing I've always tried to put first and foremost before anything is these kids.

"I've told each and every one of them that I won't be a stranger. I've got a lot of Cascade clothes and sometimes when I get days off I'm going to put them out. I'll be out here supporting my cousin on Friday night and good friend Chad Spencer when his girls take the court, and I'll be in the stands probably when they play Chapel Hill next year, yelling and screaming like everybody else does."

Several personal reasons contributed, including being closer to his 7-year-old daughter Taylor and his fiancé Courtney Williams works in Murfreesboro.

After cousin David Parker stepped down as Cascade baseball coach in 2002, Chris Parker inherited a program on the rise and helped the Champs continue their march up the ladder of respectability. Now stocked in the trophy case are back-to-back District 9-A championships in both the regular season and tournament. They won Region 5-A this year and were runner-up in 2007.

Six players signed baseball scholarships over the previous four seasons and as many as five from the 2008 class could sign soon.

Whomever takes the reins of the rising Champions, they'll inherit a base of talent that's plenty strong enough to bring home a third straight district title, including 9-A pitcher of the year Josh Brown.

"I feel real proud that David and I have done a real good job working and making this thing if not the best, one of the best Class A programs in the state of Tennessee, and I hope it stays that way," Parker said. "These kids, I love them. They're like my own sons. They love the game and play the game hard. You can see it from high school all the way down to the youth leagues. They all have those traits."

David Parker, who's now the assistant principal at Cascade, said he'll miss seeing his friend and cousin work but more than a handful of serious candidates have inquired about heading up the Champs.

"Chris was a hard worker," David Parker said. "I've always said that the difference between a good coach and a great coach is commitment and Chris was committed.

"It's a job that several people are interested in because of what he's accomplished. He's going to be hard to replace but at the same time there are people out there that are willing to come give it a shot."

Cascade has logged five interviews thus far and expect more.

Ironically, the Champs upset Blackman back in March. The Orange and Black have a history of taking on larger schools in search of a greater challenge. Now that Parker is at a school that has an enrollment of over 1,000 more students, will he return the favor and risk a letdown against a tiny school like Cascade?

Parker runs onto the field to celebrate with his players after taking down Blackman back in March. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"We're going to try to play the best baseball teams that we can play," he said. "It doesn't matter if they're A, AA, AAA or private. I've always believed in playing a tough schedule. If it's a tough game from a Cascade team, then we'll play them."

Parker noted he has plans to continue the tradition of the Dirty Ball Classic with Cornersville and coach Brent Adcox.

The Blaze went 23-12 this year and made it as far as the District 7-AAA semifinals under coach Chris Treadway, who left to become assistant principal at the new Rockvale Middle School.

No 'W' comes easy in Region 4-AAA. Just ask a local native who coached the winningest Shelbyville Central team in school history.

"He's coaching in a county with six AAA programs in it, and all six are really well-coached and treat the game seriously," Belmont assistant coach Scott Hall said. "It's going to be great competition. If you're in the top two in that county in a year, you're very much in competition with being a state contender."

The 34-year-old Parker knows the drill. He served an assistant at two of those Rutherford County schools -- Riverdale and LaVergne -- early in his coaching career.

While he won't see relatives every time he turns a corner in Murfreesboro, the Middle Tennessee graduate has a base of friends in the 'Boro to ease his transition.

The best man from his wedding, fellow Lewisburg native Jason Lancaster, is a teacher at Blackman. Parker coached one of his assistants he'll inherit, coach (Shea) Diehl. Plus, he's known his other assistant, Mudcat Brewer, for going on 15 years.

"You're going to miss being with your immediate family a lot of course, but there's going to be a lot of support where we're going or I wouldn't be going," said Parker, who admitted leaving friend and fellow coach Scott Comstock is like leaving a brother.

Looking back, Parker said there are several lasting memories, notably the win over Summertown in the 2007 sectional, the home crowds for the region tournaments and facing Moore County under the lights for the first time.

"I appreciate all the kids that played baseball for me in the past and present. I just want to let them know that they mean a whole lot to me. I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing and go where I'm going without these people and without those kids playing."