Episode 7️⃣5️⃣
Featuring 🎬
Armen Babayan 🤝
Kennewick Lions Sports 🏟️
📌 Episode 76 – Inning Intermissions with Armen Babayan
In this fun and heartfelt episode, Armen Babayan, JV head softball coach at Kennewick High, joins the bucket to talk about softball, coaching culture, and raising up the next generation — both on and off the field.
⚾ From San Diego to the Tri-Cities: Armen shares his journey from growing up in Southern California, where softball and baseball are life, to coaching in Kennewick — a place that’s become home for his family and his calling.
💨 Why Softball? The pace of the game. Armen breaks down the intensity and urgency that makes softball such a unique coaching experience.
🔊 Chants & Culture: Yes, he loves the chants — even the wild ones. Like the time his team used a "whoop whoop" cheer after a player got pulled over en route to a game (she only got a warning 😅).
🏆 Favorite Coaching Memory: Helping a travel team player get a D1 scholarship offer on the spot — a reminder of why he does what he does.
❤️ The Why Behind the Whistle: It’s about raising strong women, not just skilled athletes. Armen sees coaching as a long-term investment in building character, leadership, and life-ready people.
🦁 Kennewick Lion Softball Culture: Armen highlights the unified program structure at Kennewick — where JV, Varsity, and C-Team train together, wear the same gear, and work as one. “It’s not just me and another coach — it’s a team of six or seven coaches all chasing the same vision.”
📣 Advice for New Coaches: “Take your time to find your voice.” Armen encourages new coaches to experiment, reflect, and ultimately coach in a way that aligns with who they are at their core.
👨👧 Coaching His Daughter (Gently): With a 4-year-old already swinging off a tee, Armen admits he's trying not to freak out when she picks up a softball — but yes, the "brainwashing" has begun. 😄
🙏 Faith & Community: Beyond softball, Armen’s heart for Jesus, family, and community shines through. As a part of Hope Tri-Cities, he’s committed to shaping lives far beyond the field.
This episode is a celebration of coaching with purpose, programs with heart, and leaders who put people first.
⏪ Catch up on all episodes by clicking the link in my bio. 🔗
#InningIntermissions #Episode76 #ArmenBabayan #KennewickSoftball #FCAFamily #StoriesThatMatter #StepIntoGrowth #CoachingWithPurpose #JesusFirst #HopeTriCities #NextGenLeaders
