ShowsRoger Foutch - Coach and Entreprenuer
Jeff Natchez - Flint Sports Legend November 2, 2022 If you look in the dictionary under “Flint Baseball” you’re going to see Roger Foutch’s face. He’s been filling out lineup cards for a long time and and the results are impressive: 1,000 victories, 21 CBL-West titles, including 16 straight, six regional crowns and two national Foutch, achieved his greatest success with his Halo Burger-Foutch Auto Wash squad. He won the Stan Musial World Series in 2001 and 2005 while finishing second in 1998 and third in both 1994 and 2002.
After a star studded high school career at Bendle, Foutch spent 13 full seasons in the CBL as a slick-fielding third baseman for three teams. He was also a long-time high school baseball and basketball coach at Swartz Creek, Linden, Grand Blanc and Lake Fenton. He went on to become a small business owner and entrepreneur owing a very successful pub and car wash. That success allowed him to help Flint area baseball in a way that few have ever been able to do. Part of the Flint city league baseball story involves one of Flint’s greatest all around athletes, Jeff Natchez. While ‘Snatch’ as he is known to good friends is rarely mentioned in the same conversation with athletes like Paul Krause, Rick Leach and Andre Rison, that’s not really fair- or correct. Natchez is unequivocally one of the greatest, deserving of being in any conversation of the best of the best. A 6-4 wide receiver at Flint Southwestern he was offered a scholarship to go to play for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan. He was a standout basketball player for the Colts as well. But it was in baseball where he was offered a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers right out of high school. He took the deal and missed out on a Wolverine football career. He was without question one of the top receivers in American his senior year, and one of the best baseball players in America. Incredible really when you think of it. Natchez also tossed in 40 points one night in a Flint mens city league basketball game. He made it through the minors and simultaneously played ball in the Flint city leagues with the likes of Leach, who was a contemporary. If any two men had an inside seat to just how competitive and strong the old Flint City Baseball Leagues were, its Foutch and Natchez. And they are in The Aquarium with Fish hitting storytelling homers and dropping a few bunts too. It’s more fun than hitting for the cycle! Ok..its not THAT fun..but it’s a great day and a heckuva baseball show! |
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