Baseball field, program continues Toney’s legacy

In 1994, CHA did not have a baseball program at all; Toney was critical in getting the kids an additional opportunity. Toney had a vision and went all the way back to step one. It was his perseverance that made the thing go. Dave Melhaff

“Bob Toney started the baseball program,” Dave Melhaff, Toney’s initial successor, said. “It was a conglomeration of guys that came together.”

Rick Metheny also played a big part, providing concrete for dugouts and welding the fence together. Other prominent figures included Jay Blough; Don Roberts; Alan Loeffler; Bob’sbrother, Walt; Ron Young and Ken Matthews.

“Christian Heritage now has a field to go to,” Melhaff said. “It’s a school that believes in the athletic process. (Toney) had a vision and went all the way back to step one. It was his perseverance that made the thing go.”

Toney took his tractor to the field, which is off Sooner Road, next to First Southern Baptist Church. The baseball field first started out with an all-dirt infield and no fence. But now, the field continues to evolve and the players can even compete under lights.

“Bob Toney and some other parents really got behind this,” John Merrell said, athletic director at the school for the past 28 years. “Rick Metheny was also heavily involved, but we had to have a (prolonged) strong parent interest if we were going to start a program and have it last. I just didn’t want to start a program and then stop it. Five years, 10 years later, I wanted to still have a program.”

TITLE TONEY

No worries, as the Christian Heritage baseball program nearly won every Christian state title under Toney. Currently under Clint Littlejim, the Crusaders made it to the OSSAA state tournament in May, falling to Silo in the opening round. CHA even got to host a regional.

The junior high program, which Toney coached this spring, has swelled to over 20 athletes.

“(Toney) had the players’ attention because of his success as a baseball player,” Merrell said. “He was a great communicator; the guys just loved him. He’s been a friend of the school for many years.”

Toney graduated from Northeast High School in 1964 and led the Oklahoma State Cowboys to a runner-up finish in the College World Series in 1966. He was unanimously named the All-Star third baseman in the series.

The Atlanta Braves acquired Toney, who made it to Richmond (Va.) to the AAA level, and hit .328 with 32 doubles in ’69. He played six years of professional baseball in the Braves organization.

“(Building and coaching the CHA baseball program) was just a labor of love for this guy. He just loved doing it,” Melhaff said. “Bob is like a brook. The waters run and they run all the time. He (was) Mr. Consistency and just loved the game. It was never about Bob Toney. His brother, Walt, would bring

his smoker to the games and cook free hamburgers for anyone who wanted one. It was a family affair.”

Toney leaves behind his wife, Janet; sons, Robert and Chris; and daughters, Cara Alsup and Kelley Toney.

“You couldn’t help but like Bob Toney,” Merrell said. “He built character in the guys. He developed them into Christian young men.”

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