Coach Henry “Hen” Bell (1972 - 1999)

Coach Bell led the Manheim Central Barons Baseball Program for 28 years — from 1972 until he retired at the conclusion of the 1999 season. The Barons won Section Titles eight times under Coach Bell’s leadership (1977, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994). Coach Bell’s Barons were Lancaster-Lebanon League Champions four times, capturing the coveted League Title in 1983, 1984, 1991 and 1993. Following one year with a losing record in 1972 (7-9), he led the Barons to 27 consecutive winning seasons before retiring.

During this time in League and District history, baseball teams in Pennsylvania were divided into three categories - A, AA and AAA. The effect of this classification methodology is that twice as many teams were in each classification than there are in the modern system of six classifications. One could conclude that during this era it would be twice as difficult to qualify for District Playoffs than it is in the modern era. Nevertheless, Coach Bell’s Baron teams qualified for District Playoffs in 11 seasons as a AAA school (1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999), and reached the District Championship game in 1994.

The 1994 team was the first Baron squad to qualify for the PIAA State Tournament, winning in the opening round against Williamsport before falling to Plymouth-Whitemarsh in the Quarter-Final Round.

Coach Bell’s overall baseball record at Manheim Central is 410-205. His 410 wins as a Head Coach are 2nd most in League history, behind only Tom Getz (423-211 overall record in 29 seasons at Hempfield, 1977-2006).

Coach Bell was inducted into the Lancaster-Lebanon League Hall of Fame in 2018, the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Manheim Central Hall of Fame in 2012.