WATERFORD - Waterford High's baseball team is in for a treat.
The Chad Augenstein-coached Wildcats, who have struggled for much of the spring, are scheduled to receive some instruction from an ex-major leaguer on the diamond after school on Friday.
Scott Livingstone is the former MLB player, and he and his wife Emily (McAtee), a 1994 Waterford graduate, will be in the area for a family wedding this weekend.
"Scott is my son-in-law," said Waterford varsity and junior high track and field coach Steve Littler, "and he and Emily will be flying in from Texas for my nephew's wedding.
"On Friday, he will be conducting a clinic (at the Waterford Elementary School diamond), and donating his time to help the school's program."
While Livingstone may not be exactly a household name in these parts, it's not every day that a major leaguer or a former one in this case is in the Mid-Ohio Valley neighborhood.
"This is a great opportunity for the Waterford baseball team and coaches having a player of Scott's caliber working with them," Littler said. "And, he's doing it for free."
Livingstone currently owns and operates a baseball academy for youngsters in Southlake, Tx., where he resides.
A left-handed swinger and infielder (first and third) in his playing days, Livingstone was in the majors, from 1991-1998, with the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals).
A native of Dallas, he graduated from Lake Highlands High and attended Texas A&M University at College Station.
While in school, Livingstone was selected in the MLB amateur draft on three separate occasions by the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Oakland Athletics, respectively, but did not sign.
Not until June of 1988 did he sign after being drafted in the second round by the Tigers.
Livingstone made his MLB debut with Detroit in the summer of 1991, and his first big league skipper was the late Sparky Anderson, who once appeared at the Reds Legends Camp in Marietta.
Some of Livingstone's Tiger teammates were Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker.
In 1992, Livingstone had what turned out to be his best all-around season in the bigs when he hit .282 with four home runs and 46 RBIs in 117 games.
With the Padres in 1995, he batted .337 with five homers and 32 ribbies in 99 games.
As a Padre, one of Livingstone's teammates was Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
He was only with Cardinals briefly but Tony LaRussa was the manager then, and Mark McGwire was the marquee first baseman.
When Livingstone played for the Expos, Montreal's bench coach was former Marietta College standout Jim Tracy, now the Colorado Rockies skipper.
Until Livingstone was sidelined with an ankle break, he was in the majors for eight years, posting a lifetime batting average of .281 with 17 homers and 177 RBIs.
As to Livingstone's connection to this area....
"After graduating from Waterford, Emily went to Ohio State, and then later decided to go to school and work in Texas," Littler said. "And, that's where she met Scott."
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com.
