I love baseball. Some of the greatest memories of my youth involve playing baseball at Southwest Boys Club and West Urban in Wichita, KS. It is a wonderful game that encompasses skill, speed, courage, power, and strategy. It also has a joyous emotional component that comes from being played in the spring and summer when the leaves are green, skies are blue, and the sun is shining. This spring and summer I have been given the opportunity to coach two different baseball teams. The Red Sox are part of an adaptive baseball program in Denver through Sports Made Possible (http://www.sportsmadepossible.org/) and Kinley is on the team. A lot of the kids get around the bases in power wheelchairs or with the aid of a volunteer helper pushing their manual wheelchair or holding their hand while they walk or run. Most need assistance with every aspect of the game including holding and swinging a bat or throwing a ball. Still they play the game with an excitement and enthusiasm that is an inspiration to everyone at the ballpark. These kids are so thrilled to hear their name called by the announcer when they come to bat and they are smiling from ear to ear when they cross home plate. They are incredible.
My other team is a group of typical fifth and sixth graders and the truth is I haven’t even met these players yet. I volunteered to be an assistant coach through the Parker Recreation department and a few minutes later I was a first time head coach. J I am excited about this experience and next week will get my roster and schedule so I can begin the journey. Though I’m a little overwhelmed with all of the details and responsibilities I have to say there is one primary goal I have for the kids this summer. I hope that they will play baseball with the same joy, attitude, and spirit that I see in the Red Sox.
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