You can call him Coach Earleywine, or like the Jefferson City softball players, you can simply call him Papa. He's the hitting coach, and he's taught them a simple lesson this season: to keep swinging, even when you're down.

It's picture day for the Jefferson City softball team and the girls are all smiles about pouring their heart into a trip to state.

"If you have a goal don't set it on winning district. If you go, I want to win it all," head coach Lisa Dey said.

"Go hard or go home," softball player Kara Steiner said.

It's said home is where the heart is, and Jefferson City's Larry Earleywine knows about the ticker. His almost stopped this summer on a trip to Colorado.

"I had a heart attack while I was there. It was two days after my birthday," said Earleywine.

Dey called Earleywine when she heard the news.

"I called him when I heard that and I said 'What in the world is going on?'" said Dey.

"It went from the arms becoming numb, Face getting numb and I knew I was in trouble," said Earleywine.

"I was concerned because I don't want to go on without him," said Dey.

"I was thinking that it may be my time. It was getting short. It was bad. I had 100 percent blockage," said Earleywine.

"He said, 'about lost me.' I said 'holy cow,'" said Dey.

65 year old Earleywine survived, but he had to make a decision to come back and be an assistant coach or sit it out.

"We need him here and I think he knows that. That's why he fights so hard. We care about him a lot and if it wasn't for him I know I wouldn't be where I'm at hitting wise," Steiner said.

"That question was put to me pretty quick when I got back. Are you going to be ready to go? I said, 'yeah I think so,"' said Earleywine.

He followed his heart, and the hitting coach is back.

"He's funny. The girls laugh at some of the things that come out of his mouth. He's good for the kids. He might not admit it, but I think these girls are good for him," said Dey.

"He is more like a dad, father figure for the team. He's a great hitting coach and also someone we can joke around with. He teaches us a lot more than just the fundamentals of softball," softball player Mackenzie Bowden said.

He's taught them about survival, coming back, and enjoying every moment.

"My only regret is that I didn't have him 16 years ago when I started," said Dey.

"I think you cherish your days a little bit more than before. Probably take life just a little bit lighter," said Earleywine.

After the high school softball season Coach turns his attention to the Missouri softball team, where his son Ehren is the head coach of the Tigers.

Jefferson City plays in the district semi-finals against Camdenton on Monday at 2 pm in Lebanon. If they win, the championship is set for 6:30 pm that night.