CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: Germantown's Paul Wagner helps Lake Country Dockhounds get to the next level
GERMANTOWN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Paul Wagner makes no bones about it.
"I grew up in Germantown," Lake Country Dockhounds pitching coach Paul Wagner says. "I was fortunate enough to play in the big leagues. And play for the Milwaukee Brewers and meet great people like you. I mean, I'm just saying, we've done so much together, whether it be charity golf events, whether it be MACC Fund softball games, whatever it is, and being part of Wisconsin, and being here starting our fifth year, what an absolute...it's a pleasure."
As the pitching coach, it's Badger State traits that he instills into his Lake Country Dockhounds players.
"It's something that I do with everybody from Wisconsin," Wagner says. "Nobody believes that you can make it to the big leagues. I'm a perfect example. Like I said, I grew up in Germantown. I didn't have it. I had cold weather. I had things. If you work hard, I think baseball is that one sport where you can succeed at a high level."
"I got nothing but ultimate respect for Wags," Dockhounds left-handed pitcher Brady Rodning says. "I mean, like you said, he's made it to the ultimate level. Kind of where we're all trying to, you know, that's our main goal. And to see someone, you know, not many people play in the league, and see somebody that has years under their belt? You know, you show him respect just because he's been around."
Now the Dockhounds begin the postseason.
"We won division," Wagner says. "Now we wanna move forward. We wanna win it all and we wanna win a championship."
Wagner's claim to fame with Pittsburgh? As close to a no-hitter as you can get.
"Three-two pitch," Wagner says. "Eight and two-thirds. And if I wouldn't have fallen off the mound...the ball went right back up the middle. It was like, I mean, and then I, and then I strike the next guy out! I should have just walked him. And struck the guy out and got a no-hitter."