BUENA VISTA, Va. – In the outfield at Parry McCluer High School, the light shines on the softball team's biggest accomplishments and its greatest loss.
"It means a lot, he put a lot of effort and time into these girls. He loved each and every one of them so it means a lot to us," assistant coach Mary Buzzard said.
Greg Buzzard coached many of the players on those state title teams when they were just young girls playing travel ball.
"He basically at home at their house, he would cook for us and everything and he's been a father for us and helped us if we need anything," outfielders Iesha and Kiesha Jackson said.
Greg's wife Mary coached alongside him. With their daughters Lexy and Logan both playing, it quickly became a family affair. When the girls made it to varsity, Mary became an assistant coach. Greg was their biggest fan.
"He always told us, 'keep hitting and good things will happen,' and that's just what I live by when I'm down in a game and not hitting well," pitcher Kelsi Martin said.
With Mary coaching and Greg watching from the fence, the Fightin' Blues won back to back state championships. Their daughters received all-state honors and the school retired their jerseys upon them graduating. This year, Mary is still coaching, but Greg is no longer on the fence. He suffered multiple strokes and passed away at the beginning of the season.
"It was rough earlier in the year, basically letting them know 'what do you think Greg would want you to do,' those types of things you know, get them focused on the positives when things would go bad, we are all here with you and I think it's brought us all together," head coach Troy Clark said.
As the team played through heartache, coach Clark made sure to keep Greg's memory alive, in a place very familiar.
"It just makes my heart happy honestly. He's still here because that's where he stood every game, and that's where I always looked for, so it's nice seeing that," pitcher Kelsi Martin said.
With the reminder always present, the girls sense that Greg is still with them, and look to him when they get down.
"Right after Kelsey hit her home run on the second one, she came to me and said she had asked Greg for help when she stepped in the batter's box. So there's no doubt he was looking down," Buzzard said.
As Parry McCluer plays on this season, they know that Greg will always be in their corner.