PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- When the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games to clinch the 2021 World Series Championship, Atlanta's pitching coach Rick Kranitz finally became a world champion. 

His baseball journey, however, started many years ago and included a stop at Yavapai College. After attending Apollo High School in Glendale, Arizona, Kranitz ventured up north to play baseball for the Roughriders and made an immediate impact. 

On the mound, Kranitz helped guide the 1977 baseball team to a 38-9 overall record and 22-4 conference record en route to an NJCAA National Championship. Kranitz earned a spot on the NJCAA All-Tournament Team that season and was also named NJCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Pitcher. 

After his incredible year at Yavapai, Kranitz attended Oklahoma State University before getting drafted by the Brewers in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. 

While he never pitched in the big leagues, he spent seven years in the minor leagues where he compiled a 37-39 record. 

After his playing days, Kranitz turned to coaching and has been a pitching coach in the bigs for 20 seasons for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. 

In 2006, while working with the Marlins, Kranitz was named Baseball America's Major League Pitching Coach of the Year. This past July, he earned his 1000th victory as a pitching coach in the bigs in a victory over Miami. With the Braves winning the World Series this year, he can now add a ring to his trophy case.