For the fun of the game

If you’ve ever put in some time as a Little League or soccer coach or

as a camp counselor or in some other short-term supervisory capacity,

you understand why teachers teach kids. Working with kids and making

a difference in their lives is an incredible feeling. If it were a

drug, I’m sure it would be outlawed, because it feels so good.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I made much of a difference in the

lives of the kids I coached this baseball season. Our last game is

today, and we’re not going to any tournament anywhere. We had the

type of season that, when a friend asks you how your team is doing,

you reply, “We’re having lots of fun.”

For most kids age 9 through 12, it’s not yet all about winning.

That attitude happens years later, when you’re a parent. Right now,

most kids -- not all -- are just thrilled to be competing; to be

outdoors with no one telling them that they’re ruining their clothes

with grass stains or that they have homework to do.

When you’re a kid on the playing field, real life is suspended for

two hours.

Though our team did not do as well as anyone had hoped, we did

have some great moments. A lot of them came during our game last

Monday at TeWinkle Middle School, where we have played most of our

games.

Knowing that our season was all but over, we decided to have even

more fun and let each player play at least an inning at the position

they’d wanted to play all season, but did not.

Riley Schoneman, who had previously pitched to just one batter

(and struck him out) started on the mound. Three infielders, Mike

Markovsky, Ryan Christopher and my son, Roy, started in the outfield,

which freed up space at the bases for some of the other kids.

But some of the other kids liked the outfield and were happy to

get back there. Jared Payzant and Christian Mijares, who’d played

outfield all season, told me that if they could play anywhere, they’d

be in the outfield.

At our “fun” game, Jordan Young pitched very well in his debut,

not surprising since he is a good all-round athlete. Jordan is

responsible for making the single best defensive play I saw anywhere

on any team: a backhand grab of a hot ground ball near second base,

which he turned and fired to first base for the out.

Kids coached at first and third during that game, too, something I

think they may have enjoyed more than the post-game snack, if such a

thing is possible.

When all is said and done, there is a mountain of people to thank.

Debra Mijares-Sanchez was so valuable as our team mom. Knowing full

well that the post-game snack is the highlight of the game, Debra

dutifully called the parents responsible for bringing the snack to

the game to remind them that the kids were counting on them.

Whatever fun we had was due in large part to our coaches, Dale

Pearlman and Mike Markovsky, who often reminded me without words that

it was all just a game for kids.

Jamie Schoneman was our resident scorekeeper, assisted from time

to time by my wife, Cay. I’m sorry that Jamie did not have more

opportunities to write bigger numbers in our “runs” column, but it is

what it is.

I owe the most thanks to the players on our Minor A Dodger team.

Once again, through good and bad times, they transported me back in

time to the days when the game was all that mattered. So, to Mike

Markovsky, Jordan Young, Riley Schoneman, Andrew Tenno, Courtney

Ulrich, Joshua Bowman, Jeremy Pearlman, Justin Butler, Christian

Mijares and Jared Payzant, I say, “Thank you.”

There are a couple of other kids to thank, too. For the past two

seasons, I’ve had the great pleasure of coaching Ryan Christopher,

whose deadly aim from the mound propelled us to a tournament last

year.

This season and last, I gave Ryan more of a burden than a Little

Leaguer should have. But Ryan never complained. He always came to

play and he always gave 100%. Thanks, Ryan. You will be missed. Good

luck next season.

The other player is my son, Roy. As the manager’s son, he probably

was the recipient of more tirades than he was entitled to simply

because I made the mistake of taking out my frustrations on him,

because I could.

That’s not a good enough reason, and to Roy, I say, “I’m sorry.”

Roy also came to play.

The season was not a total loss, for these kids made a difference

in my life. Maybe they’ll all be teachers when they grow up.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.