In Ryan Lucas’ first year as Maple Grove head coach, the Red Dragons won the Section VI Class C crown. P-J file photo

Growing up outside Albany, Ryan Lucas played travel baseball during his teen years. His dad, Bob, was the coach.

“His love and passion for the game is something he instilled in me,” the younger Lucas said, “and it’s what I’ve taken to the field in my first year as varsity coach.”

The Maple Grove Red Dragons appeared to get that message this spring, too.

For as the calendar flipped to June, the young men from the Dutch Hollow Road were still alive, advancing all the way to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C Far West Regional against Avon of Section V.

“This has been a very memorable season,” Lucas said in the run up to that game. “I can’t say enough about this group. These guys take the field like brothers. They understand it’s a selfless game and they’re there to pick each other up. No matter the outcome, we’re going to remember this season and I’m very proud of these boys.”

The Red Dragons didn’t win that game to advance to the state Final Four, but it sure was a season to remember for the Red Dragons, who parlayed victories over Randolph (7-0), Portville (1-0), Barker (4-2) and Allegany-Limestone (5-4) into a Section VI crown.

Not bad for a rookie coach, who is an elementary school physical education teacher in the Bemus Point School District. Of course, Lucas was not unfamiliar to the game. After high school, he played for two years at Jamestown Community College and for two more at Pitt-Bradford.

With his dad and Dave DuBois serving as assistant coaches, Lucas took to the field with an all-for-one-and-one-for-all philosophy, paying particular homage to his senior class.

“We’ve had strong leadership from our captains, Brandon Reagle, Trevor Micek and Dalton DuBois, combined with the hustle and commitment from seniors Logan Fain, Keontay Corley and Dakota Peck,” Lucas said. “From Day One, they’ve created the atmosphere that has taken them down a successful path.”

Leading that journey was their coach.

That’s why Lucas is the 2017 Post-Journal Coach of the Year.