Dan Glass, who was the head coach of Castlewood’s 1986 VHSL Group A state championship baseball team, passed away on June 18, 2026, at age 77.
In Glass’s first season as head coach of the Blue Devils, they defeated Mack Shupe’s J.J. Kelly Indians 6-2 in the semifinals, then slammed Amelia County 15-2 to win the state championship in Charlottesville in 1986, with Jeff Phillips on the mound.
Glass guided the Blue Devils through 1999 after having previously served as an assistant on coach Ray Spenilla’s staff. Glass graduated from Castlewood in 1967 and played for teams coached by Steve Banner.
He compiled a 187-72 record for his Blue Devils, including a Region C championship in ‘86, the state crown, and regional runner-up finishes in 1988, 1993, and 1994.
Glass was a fixture in the community. In addition to being a coach, teacher, and principal, Glass spent 57 years with the Dante Rescue Squad.
Below is the article on the state title, reprinted from the Lebanon News on June 11, 1986.
Castlewood Marches Home
From Charlottesville With State Title
By: CHUCK GREEVER
Before the Wise game last Tuesday and after Castlewood had thumped Mack Shupe’s Indians 6-2, one could sense a heavy burden being eased from the Blue Devils shoulders.
And, again, those shining postgame eyes revealed an intense hunger for the state baseball title that had barely eluded the Blue Devils last year.
That intensity has been an incentive for Dan Glass’s team all year long, and it was never more evident than in Castlewood’s five postseason games, culminating Saturday in Charlottesville, with the Blue Devils thrashing Amelia County of Region B 15-2 for its first state title since 1971.
Castlewood’s chance started two weeks ago against Fries and as it turned out, no matter what the obstacle or the opponent, the Bue Devils seemed to prevail.
In the Devil Den were senior Jerry Tarr (.358) a four-year starter, and fellow seniors Jeff Kite (.448), Mike White (.551) and Jeff Phillips, 9-0 winning record during the regular season. All four had started together since 1984. White, also, was 4-0 during the regular season.
There were Steve Meade (.433), Steve Jessee (.436) and William Banner (.479), all juniors and two-year starters.
Tim Jessee was in the starting lineup in right field playing his final season and hitting for him all year long was BIG Mark Hartsock (.518), a two-season senior veteran.
Last, but not least, was newcomer sophomore Maurice Hayes (.339) with a golden glove at third base.
Not to forget rookie head coach Dan Glass. This mild-mannered, strappling mentor seemed to sense every critical moment and acted accordingly, and his baseball wisdom and savvy reaped the golden fleece for his fierce competitive team.
Castlewood had averaged over 13 runs a game during the regular season, but against Fries, the runs were few and far between.
It took a Meade single in the bottom of the seventh to win 3-2 while Phillips was exceptional, going the distance for his 10th win.
Castlewood did benefit from playing at home and it showed when Tarr’s seventh-inning home run was needed to beat Honaker 6-5. Phillips weakened only in the last inning but held on for the Saturday victory, his 11th such win.
With only a brief rest, the Blue Devils resumed the playoffs Monday against Drewry Mason for the Region C title and the right to meet Wise, winner of the weak Region D.
With White on the mound for the fourth time, Castlewood was ahead 6-5 on Meade’s homerun, but Drewry Mason (DM) had runners on second and third with one out.
Glass replaced White with Phillips and presto, after an intentional walk, Castlewood turned a double play and it was lights out for DM which fell 9-5 and on to hosting Wise on Tuesday.
In the sub-state biggie, Phillips and the great Devils defense all but silenced the Indians (18-2) as White provided the heroics with his game-winning RBI triple in the fifth.
Phillips, not as weary as everyone thought, again went the distance for his 12th win. Pitching on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, Phillips logged 14-2/3rds innings, picked up two huge victories and was credited with the DM save.
Onto Charlottesville on Saturday where the weather was hot and sticky and it was again time for Castlewood to bring out the power hitting.
They didn’t get the homerun ball, but they produced 12 timely hits (the longest being a Kite triple), a nine-run seventh inning outburst and another fine defensive game coupled with Phillip’s last brilliant mound performance for an easy 15-2 victory over Amelia County.
