Snelgrooes ready for life after baseball at T-Shirts and More

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When the last out came in the Pampa Harvesters Bi-District Championship game in Plainview, Kaleb Snelgrooes knew, it was the last out he would have as the Head Coach of the Harvesters.

Now Snelgrooes moves into the next phase of his life as the owner of T-Shirts and More with the retirement of Miles and Rita Cook.

“We had been talking about it and working behind the scenes on the decision. Becky, the boys and I felt like was the best decision for us,” Snelgrooes said. “A lot of emotions and prayer went into it. It’s a timing thing for all parties. From Miles and Rita to me and Becky to the next guy (to coach the Harvesters). It was super-emotional.”

After spending 19 years eating, breathing, sleeping Pampa baseball (four as a player, three as an assistant and 12 as a head coach), the decision to step away from the diamond comes with children starting to play sports of their own and the already busy family life.

“It’s been great,” Snelgrooes said. “But it’s time to do something different. My boys, Kamden will be in seventh grade next year and Kutter will be in fourth grade next year. I want to be able to watch them play and be around them more. Kamden will be playing seventh grade football next year at Pampa Junior High, I want to be able to watch him play. Both play Optimist and travel ball.

“It’s just one of those deals where I’ve raised everybody else’s kids, it’s time to raise my own.”

Snelgrooes added he never approached coaching like it was a “job.” He always appreciated being able to coach in his home town. The Harvesters’ 2013 victory over Perryton to secure a District Championship remains one of his favorite memories.

“It was our first year where we felt like we got the program turned and got it going,” Snelgrooes said. “To do it at home and have a video of it with Coach (Matt) Embry being there. He was one of my best friends so it was special for him to be there.

“Of course, the trips to the Regional Quarterfinals were always fun. Getting to play at Hodgetown, Texas Tech, Oklahoma City and Frisco were all fun. I’ve had some good kids come through and they were always fun.”

Snelgrooes finishes with 164 wins over 12 years. Included in those wins are two District Championships, four Bi-District Championships and three Area Championships.

Both Kaleb and Becky Snelgrooes will also be finishing their Master’s Degrees, which they started during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Kaleb is stepping away from education, Becky will stay in the field and look to climb the ladder.

Now they will take over T-Shirts and More on June 1.

“I’ve known Miles and Rita my entire life,” Snelgrooes said. “I’ve gone to church with them andthey needed someone to take over they trusted to carry on their tradition and legacy. They’ve been open since 1979. That’s a neat deal.

“I grew up coming to T-shirts and More getting hats from them. This will keep me in the sports world because we sell sports equipment and I think my connections with our coaches and coaches in the area will help to grow that. Miles and Rita did a good job getting established here and I hope to keep that going.”

Snelgrooes plans to offer all of the services already in place at T-Shirts and More. Snelgrooes has always had a niche for sales, selling roofs in the offseason with Texas Plains Roofing and Zephyr hats on the side.

“I’ve always had a thing for sales,” Snelgrooes said. “My family has always said if coaching didn’t work out I could sell insurance. It’s not insurance but it’s still sales. Being from here, you have your people you deal with and hopefully I can expand that with the coaches and people I’ve met over the years.”

The challenge for Snelgrooes will be learning a new trade. Used to be he would design and order the shirts. Now he can learn the process of making them. He will be keeping the same staff on board as he learns.

Snelgrooes is shy of former Pampa baseball coach Dennis Doughty’s win total, but is appreciative of his support of the years as a friend and mentor.

“He called me the other day asking if I caught him, I said no, he was at 196/197 or something like that,” Snelgrooes said. “He’s been a great mentor. He’s always congratulated, checked up on us and calling. He’s one of the first people I called when I was getting out.”

Snelgrooes had high praise for his assistant coach, Austin Samulowitz.

“There’s no one better,” Snelgrooes said. “I’ve been blessed to have him, Kaylee and their kids. He knows the game and understands the tradition of Pampa baseball.”

Snelgrooes is very appreciative of the support he has had from his family, the community and, of course, the kids he has been able to coach.

“I want to thank my family for the support for these 15 years of coaching,” Snelgrooes said. “The city of Pampa has been great to us. The most important thing has been the kids that have come through our program and I have been in contact with. I hope I was a part of their life in a positive way the way they were in mine. I hope I had a small glimpse of (that positive impact) in their lives.

“I’m thrilled to have done it in my hometown. I’m super-grateful. There’s nobody that loves Pampa baseball more than my family. I’m sad to step down, but excited for the next step.”