Andy: Teacher and Leader

Our Little League Closing Ceremonies were last night.  We avoided them religiously for a while, but have always looked forward to them the last five years.  Interesting how that coincides with when both children started playing.

Our opening ceremonies were full of traditions: Opening pitch, parade of teams, Board members praying publicly for help.  Teams gather nervously, as the kids are still learning about each other and making friends.  Oodles of anticipation in the air for the season.  No one has tasted the bitter pill of life lessons learned.

By the closing ceremonies, camaraderie has formed, championships won and lost, and the same ten people, now worn out, praying publicly for help.  Teams gather, some bittersweet, some relieved, and celebrate their season.  The end of year awards:Huston (sportsmanship), Tilford (ultimate Little Leaguer), Volunteer of the Year and Sponsor of the Year.  It's more carnival than services, more fun than we originally expected.

A couple of notes from this year.  Heather won her first trophy.  Granted, we were the only team in our league, but 10 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie is a very good record.  It was well earned.  She smiled the smile of the victor, too.  She's comfortable with that role, even if she didn't play it.

I was sad to learn that our Volunteer of the Year is done with Little League.  Andy Bailey coached Robby for three seasons.  He turned Robby's Little League experience around.

Robby had played four years, and was ready to walk away.  He had been a good player on poor teams, shuffled out by whatever it was that makes a good player on poor teams chosen by the League.  He had been jobbed on All Stars at his first attempt, left out by numbers and politics.  He loved to play, but hated the system.  He was ready to quit.

Andy chose Robby to go to Majors at age 10.  He rode Andy's bench for two seasons, learning the whole way, and having a lot of fun.  They were winning, one team winning the final President's Tournament for our District, beating three Middlebury teams to get there.  That team went undefeated, and looked good doing it.  Robby was a strong role player.

He finally got a year to star for Andy, playing on a good team along with a future major leaguer, Justin Walter, and a catcher he loved playing beside, Sam Wruble.  Robby had one sacrifice fly in the month of May, the only recorded out on him that month.  He hit about .700 that year, slightly behind Justin, and won five games as a pitcher, losing once.  Robby had some talent, but Andy molded it.  He stuck with the kid who cried every time he struck out that first year, and turned him into a quiet leader.  Robby still doesn't say a lot on the bench today, but is the teammate that cares more about winning than about his own game.

He gets to join a baseball team next spring that is a defending sectional champion.  Had he walked away at age 10, it would never have happened.  I'm not sure another year in Minors would have killed  the dream, but it would have seriously challenged the desire to play.

As an assistant coach, I got to go along for the ride.  He made me a better coach, and I crystallized something I already knew:Nice Guy and Desire to Win are not mutually exclusive.  I learned how not to destroy  the individual while playing to win.  It's made me into a good coach and administrator.  Heck, my daughter would have given up before that trophy without me learning those lessons.  I hope they echo in history.

I know you're not walking away from coaching, and the administration of the program you're running from here on will effect even more people.  Keep bringing your best, Andy.  Thanks for the great ride.

Nah..I'm not off base on this one.