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After offseason death of assistant coach, Willard baseball team motivated in semifinal run

Ethan Thompson received a text message from his assistant baseball coach, Justin Atchison, back in November.

The text wished him a happy birthday and told him that he loved him. It was one of the many things "Coach Atch" would do to show his love for the Willard baseball program.

The next day, Atchison was killed in a hunting accident on the first day of firearms season. He was 24 years old.

About seven months later, the Willard baseball program has fought through the pain in order to help appreciate every day. It's what Coach Atch would have told them to do.