Congratulations Joe Joe! Having played against Joe (Bel Air HS) when I was @ N Harford. From the start you could tell he was special. I don't believe he made an error in 2 years.
He was mentored by one of the finest baseball Coaches the State of MD has ever had...Jack McCracken. Bernie Walters gets all the pub...I know Bernie and Love Bernie. But I'd put Jack right there w/ him. I know Joe feels the same way, that's why, when he was named interim Coach @ CMW. He asked Coach Mac to be on his Staff. Always the Student of the game.
Those two Boys named Ripken, saw something in him, ask him to join Ripken Baseball. That says it all.
Joey keep spreading the Gospel and touching young men with this great game!

Rumors were flying last summer (2008) that Joe was going to John Carroll. You had to figure it would happen eventually. He did a good job filling in for the varsity coach (who took a year off) at CMW that spring. Then this past year he was back to being second fiddle. Now, he's the top dog again, although for a school not known for much of a baseball program. Here's hoping he can build them into a winner. I know the school administration is hoping that as well.

Joe is a class act who deserves a chance to build the program at John Carroll. I have known Joe for over 12 years as a fellow volunteer in the Hickory/Fountain Green Recreation Council and I can honestly say that every young person who has ever had the good fortune to be coached by Joe Stetka has not only learned how to be a better baseball player, but more importantly, how to be a better human being. Congratulations Joe!--and just as an aside, there are no current plans to change Hickory baseball's colors from blue, black and white to brown and gold.