Saturday, January 19, 2008

Little League Baseball

Baseball fans focus much attention on stats, numbers, and records. We are fanatic about percentages, batting averages, and wins/losses. As a Little League Manager in Deer Park Little League, I have a 24-26 overall record (5-4 in playoffs, 3-4 in All-Stars). Last season, my Mets rebounded from an 0-12 record in 2006 to 10-7 and a second place finish in the playoffs.

This year I have asked my Assistant Coach, Jerry Cochran, to take over as Manager. This is for two reasons: 1) He has been wanting to step up and call the shots himself for once & I want to be a dad for once and take some pics and vids of Jon Mark's last season in Little League. Coach Jerry wants me to be in the dugout and help with lineups, practices, and game time decisions.

Our team is returning five 12-year olds who played in All-Stars last summer. Since we finished so well last season, we should be the favorite to win the whole thing. We have three outstanding and experienced pitchers (Jon Mark Feeback, Cade Wilson, and Craig Cochran). Ryan Huseman is one of the best players and kids I have ever coached.

Jon Mark is excited to be able to dominate (his words) the younger players entering the league. He recalls the 0-12 season when he started at Shortstop as a 10-year old and suffered along with Craig Cochran, who started at 3rd that year. They will enjoy this year more than ever - Coach Jerry and I will too.

5 comments:

nathan said...

I don't mean to brag, but the 1990 Greysbranch Greyhounds were the greatest Little League team of all time.

nathan said...

I mean it was the greatest Little League team.

Roger T. Feeback said...

Nice!

Jon Mark's 2003 9-year old select team - the Scott County Storm went 40-6. They won several tourneys and placed second in the others.

It was the first and last of our select team exposure. Lots of time, games, travel, and mulah...

nathan said...

That was back before travel teams / select teams / etc. We just played out our season with the rest of the teams in the county. We only played 20 games overall (and ended up 20-0).

Roger T. Feeback said...

Impressive! My best team when I played Little League was like a third place finish.