John Prichard leaned up against the silver metal railing near Syracuse softball’s dugout in his gameday outfit — white sneakers, jeans and an orange half-zip with a block “S” in the top corner. As each player came to the on-deck circle, Prichard, 81, sporting dark sunglasses on a cloudy day, gave a scouting report to everyone standing around him.

During the Orange’s final home game against Florida State, it was former shortstop Sammy Fernandez within earshot. And throughout the five-inning game — a 14-5 loss — parents and former players approached him.

Hailey Archuleta, a former infielder for SU, greeted Prichard with a smile and a hug. Former and current players alike don’t know him as “John Prichard,” though. To them, he’s just Papa.

“I hope by being there I loosen the girls up and allow them to have fun,” Prichard said. “I like to have fun.”

Prichard, grandfather of senior Alicia Hansen, watched Hansen play collegiate softball for the final time two Sundays ago. It was Hansen’s dream to allow her grandfather — who made her baseball and softball careers possible — to watch her in college. Soon, his support quickly developed into a bond between him and the entire SU roster, one that’s strengthened throughout their four years together.

Prichard is SU softball’s biggest fan, and multiple players said his presence is an important part of the team. Players appreciate knowing they always have at least one fan standing up in the bleachers during practice cheering them on, senior Bryce Holmgren said. Syracuse’s (21-32, 8-16 Atlantic Coast) season is over after losing in the first round of the ACC tournament, and Hansen’s SU career is complete. But Prichard said he’s become so close with all of the players that he plans to stick around after Hansen, for at least four more years — as long as his body holds up.

“Anytime you walk by, he’d just say something funny to you,” sophomore Gabby Teran said. “He’s always catching the home run balls, going behind the fence, it gives us a boost. He’s always a bright smiling face that is here.”

Courtesy of Renee Hansen

Prichard has three places he likes to watch Syracuse softball games. When he’s not in left field chatting with Lailoni Mayfield between innings or sitting in the bottom-left corner of the bleachers to rest his back, Prichard stands about 10 feet from the closed door that marks the entrance to the SU dugout.

On May 5, he sipped a small Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, sometimes choosing the cranberry juice in his left hand instead. It used to be Pepsi, but for health reasons, he switched away from the more than 10 cans of Pepsi he drank on a daily basis.

He coached baseball for years as a former semi-professional player across New Mexico and Texas in his youth. But, he fell in love with softball when his granddaughter made the switch from baseball to softball herself.

“Softball is so much faster, the ball is hit and all nine girls move,” Prichard said. “In baseball, if the ball is hit to right field, half the team will stand there and say, ‘I hope he gets it.’”

When first-year head coach Shannon Doepking switched Syracuse practice schedules to earlier in the morning, most of the players liked the change. But for Prichard, that meant getting up at 5:30 a.m. on weekday mornings to show up at Manley Field House for 7 a.m. practices.

During practice, Prichard will sit or stand up in the second level of the bleachers. Known for his one-liners, Prichard will often chime in with a piece of advice or simply a joke. His daughter Renee Hansen said he has “no filter.”

“He’s got sometimes good advice, bad advice, he’s always got something,” Holmgren said. “Papa has said that I should be in Pantene hair shampoo commercials.”

Courtesy of Renee Hansen

Prichard isn’t afraid to chime in during SU games either. Against Notre Dame on March 30, there was a dispute between the two teams about the correct batting count. The home plate umpire and Notre Dame players were claiming the count was 2-2, but amid the arguing, Prichard yelled from his spot on the bleachers near home plate that it should actually be 1-2.

Prichard was right. “Tell ‘em Papa!” Teran shouted from her spot at second base. Realizing his mistake, the umpire changed the count back to 1-2.

On May 4’s ACC Network broadcast, former SU player Faith Cain was on color commentary. She sent a text from the booth to Renee, telling her that Papa would be featured on the broadcast and should be ready for the camera.

But then Cain realized that she didn’t know his actual name even though she’s been around him for over three years. She texted Renee, asking for it. She’s only known him as Papa.

Teran said: “He’s a grandpa to all of us.”

Published on May 14, 2019 at 3:13 pm

Contact Anthony: [email protected] | @AnthonyDabbundo