By Don Ketchum

Well, well, well . . . look who is wearing Columbia Blue!!

Did you ever think you would see the day when long-time Peoria Centennial softball coach Bartt Underwood would end up in the school colors of rival Glendale Cactus?

It has happened. Underwood will take the field as Cactus’ head coach in the spring of 2012.

He was hired about 2 ½ weeks ago after learning that Cactus coach Bill Sorensen was named the school’s athletic director. Unlike some districts, the Peoria District doesn’t allow its ADs to coach. Sorensen had guided the softball program after the retirement of long-time coach Jeff Griffith.

Underwood last coached in 2010, when he led Centennial to the Class 5A Division II championship, the school’s first. Centennial also was state runner-up four times, including 2003 and 2004, when it faced Cactus for the Class 4A crown.

After hoisting the title trophy, Underwood decided to retire as a teacher. Centennial requires its coaches to be on campus at all times, so Underwood had to give up his coaching gig. He did not coach in high school in 2011, only in club ball, and watched daughter Taylor complete her career as Centennial’s first baseman. Underwood’s son, Ryan, played quarterback for Cactus in the late 2000’s.

Underwood had developed a good relationship with Cactus principal Tad Bloss, a former high school classmate, who said if the Cactus job ever opened up again, he would be interested in talking to Underwood about it.

Underwood also had been talking to another northwest Valley school about its opening, and went back and forth about which job interested him the most.

“I wasn’t sure. I told him (Bloss) I would think about it and get back to him before going to Alabama for a club tournament,’’ Underwood said.

At Cactus, coaches do not have to be on campus, but Underwood will have a special set of eyes and ears to keep him updated.

They belong to Griffith, his former rival, who will join Underwood as an assistant coach. Griffith won six titles at Cactus, with three second-place finishes and returned to Cactus as a teacher a year or so ago.

Underwood also will bring with him two former assistants at Centennial, Rusty Peterson and Dave Hyman. Both have extensive coaching experience.

“Jeff said, “Do you think four (assistants) will make it too crowded?’ I told him no, I didn’t think so. Rusty and Dave also do a great job. With our experience, that makes it even better,’’ Underwood said.

“I’ve known Jeff for a long time. He is a good coach and has a lot of good ideas. I told him, “You’d better not hesitate to chime in (give an opinion). And I know he’ll have my back.’’

Underwood admits it will seem a little strange to lead the team he always tried to beat.

“We had so many good rivalry games with Cactus,’’ he said. “I think both teams developed a great respect for each other. It wasn’t an, “I hate you, you hate me’’ kind of thing.’’

Underwood also wants to rebuild the booster club that has been dormant in recent seasons, and there is a strong chance that the softball program will get equipment and facility upgrades.