Billy Ball

Back in the early 80's Billy Martin was the manager of the Oakland A's.  His team played a unique style of baseball that involved over using starting pitchers and speedy players at nearly every position in the field.  The media dubbed it Billy Ball.

I think Billy Martin is an idiot and his type of baseball didn't last very long.  But the phrase makes a very good title.

My son Mike is nicknamed Billy and he loves to play baseball.  This story is about him and not about a drunk ex-Yankee that made it possible to sympathize with George Stienbrenner.  (the origins of the nickname are to long to get into but I can tell you it story of inspiration about a kid that pushed through a tough time and a wonderful coach that help Billy believe he could succeed.)

Recently the Junior Legion Baseball team that I coach hosted a weekend tournament and although it meant spending 32 hours at the baseball field it was a good time.  Like every thing in life it had its high points and its low spots.

Removing the unruly McCook parent from the stands wasn't fun.  Losing twice to Pleasant Dale including a 11-1 pasting that involved only 3 hits but 9 errors by our team was frustrating.

Those moments where out weight by several other positive moments. Taylor Hanson's 3 hit game.  Josh Dilley's 2 hit 2 RBI game.  Good pitching in a losing effort by Phil Grothaus.

We had a great time off the field as well. Working together with the players and fellow coaches, serving the other teams was a good team building exercise.  Watching the Bond family spent all Father's Day working at baseball with their dad was fun to watch. I am grateful to the Power sisters, Dilleys, Schafers, Jones and Terry Pieloch for selling tickets.  The Hoffamans and Vanis families worked together for hours on end and other people pitched in to help with tickets, fields and scorekeepping all helped to make the tournament possible.

Each player wrote a Father's Day tribute to their dad.  I know I enjoyed not only receiving a tribute from my son but also having the chance to give a tribute to my Dad.  The two coaches had our Dad's throw out the first pitch and everybody seemed to enjoy the moment. 

But wins and loses aside there is no doubt the high point of my Father's Day happened at the very end of the day.  I was finally able to make it home around 8:30 on Sunday evening.  My wife and kids had gotten me several gifts.  I loved each one.

But the highlight for me was the hand written notes from my kids.  Each of them took the time to write me a personal note.  The last line of my Mike's card thanked me for running the tournament.  It made me cry.  My reason for running the tournament was to raise money of the team.  The reason I coach the team is so my son can have a place to continue to play baseball because our high school doesn't have a team.  The side benefit is spending time with a great bunch of guys.  Any success on or off the field brings joy to my heart.

Not having a spring teams means Legion baseball is this great group of boys only avenue for baseball.  The parents of the players have chosen to send their kids to a christian school.  That means the parents are making sacrifices to make sure their son is getting a Christian education.  Those sacrifices come in many forms.  For some families it means paying tuition even though a free education is available through the public school system.  In some cases it can mean taking a second job, traveling for work to make extra money, or teaching at the school and receiving lower pay in exchange for a christian education for their sons. 

Our school's lack of baseball is small in comparison to the sacrifices I listed above.  But it is still there and in the past a few families have considered it to big of a sacrifice and pulled their children so they can play baseball (or other sports) at other schools.

(On a side note I can tell you that it isn't worth it to pull your children from a Christian school so they can play sports at another school.  This years senior class has 5 scholarship baseball players and at least 3 of the underclass we get scholarship offers!!!)

In the case of some the players, including my son, they are making a sacrifice by not playing spring baseball for a school team. They take what they get and make the most of it. 

Thankfully Mike took the time to write me a note that I will never throw away.  It makes everything I have done with him in baseball worth it. Playing catch in the backyard for hours, driving him to select games, and coaching a legion team are all worth the payoff.

Mike is a very good baseball player.  Where his talents take him is hard to know right now.  But as his father it brings joy to my heart knowing he is making the most of his talent and more importantly he is grateful for the opportunity he has.

Another lesson taught to me through the actions of my child.  When he was born we named him Michael but on the baseball field I call him Billy and I likely always will.   (Thank you Bob Petit)