Former Northwestern High Baseball Coach Still Inspiring Players

Bob Reading would have turned 66 today. But the former Northwestern and Kent Island high school coach died earlier this month … while driving to a game.

Reading (Redd-ing) was a baseball lifer, someone who, after his playing days are over, becomes a coach. In his case, nearly two-thirds of his life were devoted to coaching young men and women.

His final assignment was as DeMatha’s head freshman baseball coach. On April 1, he was on his way to the Stags’ game at Eleanor Roosevelt when he had a medical emergency and was unable to proceed. A police officer on Kent Island asked him if he was OK.

He was not.

Reading’s team, unaware of why he wasn't at the game, went on to win, 11-1. They were summoned to the school chapel first thing the next morning. As they heard the news of his passing, most of the boys were in stunned disbelief. Some placed their heads into their hands.

Word quickly spread that the former Northwestern player (1975-77) and head coach (1983-90) who also coached softball and baseball at Kent Island – among other clubs – had died. He had only been the Stags’ freshman coach since Feb. 20.

I was fortunate to be Bob’s teammate for two years at Northwestern. He was a catcher, and I was a pitcher. I was also his assistant at DeMatha. During our brief reunion, we had a blast reminiscing about playing together for coach Marty Gallagher, running sprints through the hallways on Saturdays and selling citrus fruit to raise money for a pitching machine.

We eventually went to college, settled into our careers and raised a family. Two of Bob’s sons, Billy ’12 and Danny ’15, played baseball for the Stags.

Drawing Inspiration

On April 10, senior pitcher Bryce Palms started a home game against Jackson-Reed. He said he wasn’t feeling particularly well, but he drew inspiration from coach Reading and wrote his initials on the back of the mound. He proceeded to throw a no-hitter.

It was his first no-hitter ever and the first for a DeMatha player (in a full game) since Nick Pearce tossed a perfect game against Gonzaga in 2005. Palms allowed just two baserunners (on walks) and struck out six. The Stags won, 4-0.

“I was just coming off a sickness and, honestly, hearing about the recent passing of Bob Reading kind of messed with me a little bit,” Palms said. “Even though I didn’t work with him directly, when I would see him, his mood would always bring me up.

“That game was definitely for him.”

Palms also felt compassion for Reading’s daughter, Jenn, a DeMatha assistant athletic trainer who played softball for her dad at Kent Island and was on April 12 inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. In the spring, she works closely with the Stags’ three baseball teams.

“Miss Jenn has had a really big impact on my life,” said Palms, who has accepted a scholarship to play next year at Youngstown (Ohio) State University. “She’s one of my biggest supporters at DeMatha. She’s gotten me through a lot, and I just wanted to do something to honor coach Reading. I was grateful to be there in that situation.

“I didn’t get to the ballpark feeling the best, but I left there feeling way better than I ever did.”

Palms met Reading last year during fall practice.

“I introduced myself, and he welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “When we talked, I could tell that his energy and his vibes were really good. He was always smiling and had a good, positive mindset, and I try to take that on to the field. I was definitely thinking about my interactions with him when I took the field the day I threw the no-hitter.”

The day after Reading died, our freshman team had a home game against Good Counsel. I gave the guys the option of not playing. I was happy that they decided to compete because I know Reading would never pass up an opportunity to play or coach the game he loved.

We took a 3-0 lead into the top of the seventh but gave up four runs and lost, 4-3. I felt so badly for the players. Was there anything I could have done differently so that a sorrow-filled day could end with an uplifting victory?

On April 14, we traveled to Olney, Md., to face Good Counsel again and ended up playing our best game of the year. Our pitcher, Alex Prieto, threw a three-hitter and struck out eight in a 12-2 win. We performed well in all three phases – hitting, pitching and defense.

As we gathered in right field postgame, I told the boys how proud I was of them and how amazed I was that they could continue playing in light of what had transpired.

Tears filled my eyes as I thought of my former teammate and how these 14- and 15-year-old young men had honored him with their resilience and ability to focus on the game. Finally, one of the players spoke up and said, “Coach Bob is looking down on us with a big smile on his face.”

The lesson I share with my players is that you never know when fate is going to take a turn. So tell your parents often that you love them and appreciate all they do for you. You never know when the game of life is going to end.

Although Reading’s final out came on April 1, 2025, he continues to inspire boys to play – what he would call – the great game of baseball.

Chris McManes is DeMatha Catholic High School's communications manager.