Longtime St. Dominic Academy baseball coach Bob Blackman, center, is surrounded by coaches and current and former players Sunday at the field that was dedicated to him at the end of the 2024 team’s banquet. In the foreground are the eight state championship trophies the Saints have won during Blackman’s 20 years as a coach, including titles in the past three seasons. “Despite what you have been hearing, I am not planning on retiring this year,” Blackman said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Longtime St. Dominic Academy baseball coach Bob Blackman, left, gives a special award to Tom Casserly Sunday afternoon during the team’s banquet at the field that was dedicated to Blackman. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Longtime St. Dominic Academy baseball coach Bob Blackman, right, addresses the more than 100 people who came to the Auburn school’s baseball field Sunday afternoon for the Saints’ end-of-season banquet. The field was dedicated to Blackman at the end of the banquet. In the foreground are the eight state championship trophies the Saints have won during Blackman’s 20 years as a coach, including titles in the past three seasons. “Despite what you have been hearing, I am not planning on retiring this year,” Blackman said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal