Gladstone more than a Happy Rock!

It has been quite awhile since Wooster-Tales had anything to say about anything worth the ink even though plenty of temptations have kept me on the edge.  What prompted the dusting of the keyboard for this addition was a combination of watching several Little League baseball games, and viewing the ‘Top 10 List’ from ESPN.

Our youth baseball program was entertaining Randolph (Wed. eve.) in yet another contest between two really good programs.   These were the first games attended for me as I have missed all the June contests since being in rehab trying to nurse 8 broken ribs back into shape from a failed Swedish sky-diving incident!

Despite sitting on those unforgiving aluminum seats from 4-10 p.m., and through 5 different competitive levels of games, it turned out to be the one of the best ‘Bang for your Buck’ entertainment venues on this planet.   No doubt my aluminum space was no softer than anyone else’s but several parents and grandparents demonstrated limited suffering as we were all too busy cheering for both teams on the field.  That was slightly interrupted in the later games when the skeets were trying to squeeze into our box-seat section.

What really has prompted this edition of the ‘Tales’, however, is a direct connection with watching ESPN this morning and their segment called the ‘Top 10 List’.  This is a group of previous day/evening sports events that demonstrate some real high-lights and skilled, athletic plays.  

With the local Little League games still fresh in my mind I noticed that there was a strange coincidence in the correlation of equally great plays from our own kid’s games that mirrored those shown on ESPN.  The following is a list of what I believe could parallel those seen on TV, and perhaps in several situations would be comparatively better!  Some were just funny, others just great.

#10.  In the first T-ball-assist game of 5-6 yr olds, the crowd was entertained beyond imagination when the Randolph team, whom had combined their own girls and boys teams together, put about 20 kids out on defense when Wausa came to bat.  I’m sure the locals had that ‘Custer-feeling’ for awhile trying to figure out how to hit the ball between anybody since it was a sea of red on the diamond.  No scores were kept although several fans told me ‘Custer’ had the real bullets this time.

#9.  A defensive play was made by a Wausa-second baseman catching a hard hit ground ball to his right and after scooping the ball in a backhand move, managed to tag the runner going to second, and then had the presence of mind to throw to first completing a double play.  (9-10 yr olds)

#8.  A line shot was drilled down the 3rd base line with our 3rd baseman making another great backhand-catch, and then doing a high five with the Randolph coach who was congratulating him on the third out.  (9-10 yr olds)  That same player had several other catches of equal skill.

#7.  Wausa at bat with runners at first and second, the Randolph coach took a little extra time to let his 3rd baseman know that he should just touch the base if he gets a ground ball.  Simple right?  Well, he got an easy ground ball and do you think he remembered his coaches words?  Nope, he was so filled with excitement he proceeded to throw the ball over the first baseman’s head leading to another easy Wausa run. (7-8’s yr olds)  Actually a similar play in the majors occurred nearly the same way and the opposition scored a victory with 2 unearned runs via mental blackout.

#6  A Wausa catcher sprinted on a short foul pop that landed next to the backstop fence.  It wasn’t just the sprint that was impressive; it was the way he dove relentlessly in an out stretched fashion trying to get to the fly ball.  After skidding into the fence/boards, unable to hold onto the catch, he dusted himself off and sprinted back to the catcher’s position with a huge round of applause for effort from both team’s fans.  (11-12 yr old)

#5.  A Randolph slugger drove a screaming line shot down the 3rd baseline that had ‘homerun’ written all over it.  Wausa’s left fielder, whom in a post-game interview told me he knew how this player could hit and decided to play him about 5 steps deeper than normal. In a full speed sprint toward the foul line, our player reached out with a backhand to catch this meteoric drive which drove the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.  This could easily have been the greatest catch of the evening.  (11-12 yr olds)

#4.  Drama is always played out in the constant battle between pitcher and batter and this game was no different than a typical Sabathia (Yanks) vs. Beckett (Red Sox) match up.   Wausa’s pitcher stayed calm, cool and very collected as he shut out the Randolph team in a 5-0 Wausa victory.  It was exciting to see how his competitive mental and physical edge kept Randolph guessing as to how get a score as our pitcher made several fine defensive gems to complement his pitching masterpiece.  (11-12 yr olds)

#3  In a later contest of 13-14 yr olds, the Wausa pitcher completed one of the best defensive gems I have witnessed in years.  This play reminded many as to why aluminum bats should be made into seats, rather than used as weapons from the batter’s box.  A Randolph batter from the middle of their line up stepped into a fastball and drove it with velocity compared to #5 above.  This time the ball was driven straight back at the pitcher, less than a foot to his 3rd base-side shoulder, and for me, it appeared to be a Herb Score incident all over again!  With a ‘cat like’ survival-backhand stab that took about ½ second, tops, he snared this liner and closed the inning out with only a small grin adorning his feat.

#2.  I don’t like to highlight the same player twice, but in this instance during the 13-14 yr old contest, he made one of the fastest ‘pick-off’ moves to first base that can be expected for somebody in this age bracket.  Using a jump-spin, the first base runner was caught dead in his tracks trying to reel back from only 3 steps off the base.  The runner was not slow, but rather, the pitcher was just that much quicker.
#1.  I leave this entry to the entire group of Wausa Little League players whom each demonstrated that they certainly have a very good grasp of playing baseball, knowing the rules, skills, and hustle it takes on and off the field.  There wasn’t one single event that was unsportsmanlike with each player demonstrating respect for their opponent.  This is a definite reflection on those that coach (and you certainly are appreciated) along with supportive parents, grandparents and those that organize this program.

Some of these youngsters will be playing another tourney game or two, three or four in Plainview over the weekend (see schedules).  I encourage each of you to take some time from your day and come down to watch and cheer the locals to victory.    These games are ever as much entertaining as a pro contest where you are assured to spend over a hundred bucks to watch.  Give yourself a treat and help support Wausa’s future athletes.

* The ‘Tales’ has deliberately left out names of those contributing to the Top 10 list.  It is the intention of this writer to recognize that each team player performed very well and for each to go unrecognized would be nothing short of sinful, especially in a team-sport!  Keep Gladstone a place where the echoes of winning baseball rekindle the spirit of yesteryear when it was more than just a ‘game of inches’.  Go Mighty Vikes!