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Longtime Charlotte Christian baseball coach passes away after battle with cancer

CHARLOTTE — A longtime Charlotte-area high school baseball coach has passed away after a battle with lung cancer, Charlotte Christian School announced on Saturday. He was 57.

“It is with great sadness that we share that Varsity Baseball Head Coach Greg Simmons has passed away after a battle with lung cancer,” the school said in a release

Simmons spent 30 years with the Knights and tallied 733 career wins, including 16 NCISAA state titles and 22 CISAA conference titles. The field was a home away from home for Simmons.

Upper School Principal Shonn Brown spoke about Simmons, who is a friend of his.

“I’m still trying to be the support for all of our students and the faculty,” said Brown. “We are praying for peace, peace for his family, peace for our community as we navigate this challenging time.”

The head of Charlotte Christian School Barry Giller released a statement.

“For the last 13 years Greg Simmons, has been my colleague, neighbor, friend, and most importantly, a brother in Christ. The Lord Jesus called Greg to his eternal home this morning,” said Giller.

The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association inducted Simmons into their hall of fame in 2016. Simmons coached 95 players who went on to play at the college level. Ten went onto play in the MLB.

There’s a public memorial service planned Calvary Church in south Charlotte on Saturday at 11 a.m.

(WATCH BELOW: Beloved coach dies after medical emergency at a Statesville high school)