Cooperstown 2018

2018 Cooperstown

Dreams Park Tournament 

Reflections from a mom who knows next to nothing about baseball...

Today is Thursday morning. Instead of scrambling to get out the door of our cozy Garrattsville, NY campground cabin to get to the ballpark for our 8:30 game, I am sitting at the picnic table reflecting on the week.

What a week!

What is it about baseball that is so darn special? It just brings people together.  To see a group of kids, who almost all came out of the same county, who have relied a lot more on hard work than natural born talent, perform on this size of a stage…it’s just almost too much to take in.

The Alleghany Crushers.

They were born out of love of baseball.

We have seen these kids rise and we have seen them fall. We have been through the most incredible wins and the most gut-wrenching losses—on and off the field—together.

As I sit back this morning, I am reminded of something that happened two years ago, long before any thoughts of Cooperstown ever existed.

Our family had been through a pretty tough time and these kids and their families had our back every inch of the way. This particular week were playing in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was the hottest week on record and there we were.  Playing baseball.

My #34, Big Papi.

Why do we call him that?  A lot of these kids have been together since they were in Minor A.  First day of practice, Coach Nolan realized he had two kids named Wyatt. He knew that wasn’t going to work, so he asked if my Wyatt had a nickname or something else he’d like to be called, and without skipping a beat, he said, “You can just call me Big Papi.” And Papi was born that day—a far cry in size from what his almost 13 year old self is today. 

My Papi was up to bat with the bases loaded in that game in Myrtle Beach. You see, he was a 10 year-old boy who had spent the spring not only working on his hitting and fielding, but also watching his mom battle cancer.

Big Papi hit his first every dinger that day—a grand slam. The ball sailed over the fence and he rounded the bases behind his three teammates. They congratulated him and he went in the dugout and he sat down and he cried. He was excited but moreover, he was humbled that day and that’s the magic of baseball. That’s what brings people together.

Each of these boys have grown so much over the last four years, and this week they grew astronomically. Each kid is special is his own way and offers the team something special and unique that the other can’t.

Wyatt “Big Man” Campbell is one of our youngest kids, but don’t think for a second that his size holds him back. He is a beast on the pitcher’s mound and a vacuum on second base. He hit a dinger in Lynchburg last year, and I feel sure he’s going to hit another this year.

Peyton “Big Jim” Meadows aka Smiley, is a force to be reckoned with. He is a team player and will play any position that is asked of him. He’s gotten pretty fierce out in right field and we have seen him throw several kids out at first in this tournament. Big Jim also pitches, plays first and he is so close to knocking one over the fence it’s not even funny.

Kole Caldwell. Lord have mercy. I thought I was laid back. This kid makes me look like an amateur. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff at all. You will find him mostly in left field, but he also pitches occasionally and catches as well. He hit a dinger in Cooperstown!

Chris “Hoser” Harden. This kid is our wild card. If anybody was betting, they would certainly think this one belonged to my husband, because they are very much alike. Hoser will keep you on your toes and he will always have you laughing. He is a mighty center fielder, backup catcher and look out if he’s on base because he’s one of our best baserunners. He hit two dingers in Cooperstown.

Tanner “T-bird, Sweet T” Evans. Tanner came on board last year. He lives in Christiansburg and we got to know him and his family when we played against his team. Tanner is also one of our young kids, but you’d never know it by his performance on the field. He plays shortstop and pitches and he’s our leadoff hitter and he jacked one out in Cooperstown too!

Anthony “Squirrel” Webb. Anthony is one of our strongest pitchers. When he is on, lookout world, because we’re probably going to get a W. When he’s not on the mound, you will find him over on third base.

Eli “Big E, Deez, Big Easy” Weese goes between center field and second base. Eli is one of our little dudes, but he is mighty is so many ways. He hit his first dinger in Cooperstown this week. Eli is an all around great baseball player from his defense, to his hitting to his base running.

Hunter “Buzz” Depriest. Hunter is a key player on our team. He is one of our leaders. He is one of our best pitchers and also plays a great third base. He jacked a couple of dingers over the fence at Cooperstown also.

Jakari “Pedro, J” Nicely. Ah. This kid. What would our team be without this kid? He brings leadership and power hitting (7 homers in Cooperstown) and he’s an incredible catcher. He plays with a lot of heart and he’s just a great all-around kid.

Chase “Chaser” Depriest. Chase is another young one. He’s two years behind everybody but there was no evidence of that this week! Chase came in and pitched for us and pitched really well. You will also find him in right field. Chase is killing the ball also and he will be jacking homers next year.

And my own Wyatt “Papi” Griffith. He plays first base and he jacked four over the fence this week. He wears his heart on his sleeve and has an old soul, and I truly think that when the Crushers’ time was up yesterday, that his tears were not only a reflection of the highs and lows out on the field, but also everything else that went into making this trip to Dreams Park a reality.

I’m an outsider.

Only Coach Nolan, Coach Davey and Coach Kevin know the stories from inside the bunkhouse this week and I’m sure they are doozies! How could living among 11 tween boys be anything less?!

I think back to my days of going to camp and learning and growing. It’s life changing. It’s so much more than baseball.

One of the lessons I got out of this week is that it truly is sometimes just as incredible to lose when you know you gave it every ounce of your heart. That trumps a lackadaisical win any ole day. And we saw it up close and personal in the game on Tuesday night against FCA. Kelly Caldwell went live with it that night, so many of you reading this will know exactly what I’m talking about. A couple of years ago, we beat all odds and came back in a tournament in Richmond and walked away with a win. That was great and exciting, but even still, I have never been as emotionally involved in a game more than Tuesday night. Our boys were there to play with every fiber of their being and the fans were united and cheering and Chaser was in the dugout rattling the cage and we saw the magic of baseball. Even when we came up one run short.  

Cooperstown 2018.

Thanks for the awesome memories.

Crushers for Life.