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Binney plans to step down Citing a desire to spend more time with his own children, North Medford softball coach Larry Binney told his team Thursday that he plans to retire after this coming season. Binney, who was named national softball coach of the year last season, enters his 18th and final season with a 395-89-1 record. His teams have won 13 Southern Oregon Conference titles and three state titles. "We kind of had an emotional talk tonight," Binney said. "A lot of the emotion was from me because it was an announcement I've never made before. It was a little tough." "There's never a good year to step down, but we have a good nucleus of young players," he said, adding that, "whoever steps in will have some good upcoming ballplayers from sixth grade on up." Binney said choosing a replacement after this season would be up to the Medford School District, but that he hoped to have some input on the decision. Binney has a son in Southern California and a daughter in New York. He also has a 2-year-old granddaughter in Southern California. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.