Iberia Baseball achieved a dream season: going undefeated an earning a state championship.

Head coach Tim Vinson was the leader of the Rangers on diamond.

But off the field, Vinson has spent his time as a volunteer firefighter, a purpose he’s fulfilled for the past seven years.

“I just saw an ad from the fire department had put out that they were needing volunteers,” Vinson said. “I went to the meeting started going to the trainings and figured out a role I could play in the department and got comfortable, and I’ve gone with them with the trainings since then.”

According to Vinson, there are several parallels between baseball and firefighting.

“Everybody has a role to play. Everybody has a job to do, and you have to get comfortable. You have to get comfortable in that role. You’re building a team that’s trying to execute under pressure,” Vinson said.

When Vinson and his state champion Rangers returned from Ozark back in May, his other team at the Iberia Rural Fire Protection District was waiting for him.

“You know we’re really proud of Tim,” said Greg Onstott, fire chief at the Iberia Rural Fire Protection District. “It couldn’t happen to a better group of people, players, and Tim especially. We’ve talked throughout the baseball season. Just asking him how it’s going, you know, what he thinks. Tim is pretty low key like he is at the department, but he gets the job done.”

Vinson said that fire stations like his are always asking for help, and anyone can make a difference.

“It’s rewarding. The important part is you know if you attend these trainings and you are able to help people in their vulnerable times, someday someone might need you and that thought is what keeps you from coming back,” Vinson said.

For more information on how to volunteer at the fire district, head on over to their website by clicking on this link here.