As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we get ready for events all over the region that inspire us and build our communities. Fireworks, cookouts, carnivals, parades and vacations, it’s all a part of the wonderful July summer break during this special year.
One thing that inspires me is summer baseball. Little League, Babe Ruth, travel ball and more, the boys of summer are having fun. That phrase was coined in a Dylan Thomas poem traditionally referring to the Dodgers and made famous in an Eagles song.
These past several weeks, I spent many hours hanging out with the real “boys of summer”. Dirtbags, Cougars, Guardians, Vipers and more, Thurmont summer baseball is a blast. What strikes me most is the level of participation. Thurmont has four teams in two leagues spanning ages 10 through 16. That’s at least forty kids playing organized summer league baseball in Thurmont alone! The 13-16 age Dirtbags and Cougars play in the Frederick County Babe Ruth baseball league. And the Guardians and Vipers play in the Maryland District 2 Little League 10-12 year old baseball league. If I were the head coach of Catoctin varsity baseball, I’d find that pretty encouraging.
On any given Sunday afternoon at Leisner field in Thurmont, you can find two games being played in adjacent fields to a packed parking lot with teams practicing in a vacant field nearby. That’s well over 100 people of all ages coming together to have fun and play America’s favorite pastime. And that’s not just a one weekend event, that’s pretty much a regular scene at the ballfields behind the Thurmont police station.
Fans, kids and coaches brave the heat and dust to play a game they love. The smell of hamburgers and hot dogs fills the air with the crack of the bats in the background. Young players dream of making it to Williamsport and maybe even the “big leagues”. Summer memories are being made and everyone is a part of the journey.
There is a special place in heaven for the men and women that decide to become little league baseball umpires. I say that because, I too was once an umpire, briefly. At the beginning of a little league game that I was attending to watch my little brother play, the coaches were upset because the umpires didn’t show. One coach recognized me and said, Michael, you played little leagues baseball here, can you help us umpire the game? I was honored to have been selected, so I put on the gear and stepped behind the plate. What followed was a nightmare. I had no idea how hard it was to make split second decisions, apply the rules and keep order in the chaos of parents, coaches and kids all disagreeing with me and all at once. It seemed like I was the only one out there not having fun. When the game was over, I jumped in my car and got the heck out of there as fast as I could. I don’t think I did a very good job, based upon a quick survey of the demeanor of the crowd. Several days later, I was at the grocery store picking up a few things for my mom. I heard a loud voice shout “Hey Ump”. I looked up across the produce section to see a really big man staring at me and headed my way. As he approached in a menacing sort of way, he reminded me to stay in college and not pursue a career officiating baseball, but not in those exact words. Once again, I left quickly. Hats off to all little league umpires!
The coaches deserve credit too. My Dad coached my little league team. I remember how proud I was of him for taking on that responsibility. My Dad was an HVAC mechanic and most of his summer months were spent in 120 degree attics banging his head on the rafters. He would come home exhausted and collapse in the easy chair. We weren’t allowed to talk to him until he spoke to us. I especially remember one summer evening when he quietly sat down at the dinner table with blood trickling down the side of his head from an attic wound. He reached out and picked up the iced tea pitcher and drained it in several gulps. I asked him if he was OK. His answer….sure. Are you ready for the big game tomorrow, he asked?
I thought of him while watching Dirtbags Coach Joey Youngerman encouraging his son Devin at the plate. I thought of my Dad when I saw 18 year old Brady Wehage honoring his father, the President of Thurmont Babe Ruth, by taking on the head coaching role for the Cougars when no one else could. Wehage just graduated from high school! Or Coach Fisher, President of Thurmont Little League and the proud father of one of his sons playing for him, Jace. Coach Yocum who played baseball for the Mount has two sons in the Majors. And finally, Kristin Wolfe an assistant coach with two sons playing in the league, works tirelessly behind the scenes as the league event coordinator. They remind me of the level of commitment and hard work it takes to work, raise a family and coach a team, like my Dad did.
The All Stars will begin this July. That’s when the spam hits the fan. The best of the best in all ages and categories are gathered together by the top league coaches to take on teams from all over Central Maryland. Come on down to Leisner field to see some really good baseball.
To checkout the schedules go to thurmontlittleleague.com or Frederick County Babe Ruth baseball for games in your area.
I want to end this July column by sharing with you the players and parent’s pledge, especially in light of the celebrations that will take place all over our region this July. I think you’ll find it fitting, compelling and a fast ball over the plate for our nation’s 250th anniversary.
PLAYERS PLEDGE
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win