Sunday, April 22, 2001
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Sunday, April 22, 2001 |
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"Put Me in Coach, I'm Ready to Play . . . Today!" By DAVID L. CHANCEY
I'm wearing a new hat these days. Actually, it's a cap, a baseball manager's cap. Several weeks ago, Ken Jackson of the Fayette County Baseball Association, called one evening and said they had a team that needed a manager. Would I be interested? My immediate response was that I already had a full platter and didn't have time. My responsibilities with work and family were all I needed to take on right now. He said that's what everybody else was saying. He had enough boys to field another team and if someone didn't take it, the players would inflate the rosters of the already existing teams. I told him I'd think about it. I prayed it through, and felt like it was a good opportunity for community involvement. I saw it as a great chance to meet some people and to touch the lives of some 11- and 12-year-old boys. I'm a big baseball fan, and played recreation ball as a youth, but have not been "hands on" in a long time. I felt a little rusty on the finer points of the game. And I'd have to brush up on some of the technicalities of the rules. But I decided to go for it. So I "came out of the stands," as they put it. In Fayette County the core of many of these teams is already established and the boys move up together each year. Some of these boys have been playing together for years. Each year there is a draft that fills out the team to a full roster of eleven or twelve boys. When I went to the draft, I didn't know a soul and had no idea whom I was drafting or what position he played. I did have one father who said he would help when he could, and another father who would be an assistant coach but didn't want to manage a team this year. So I froze those two players and knew going in I had some possible help. Now we're at the opening of the season, and I'm amazed how this thing has worked out. I've ended up with five pretty strong pitchers and two others we're grooming. I have two fine catchers! I have five fathers who have been on the front lines of teaching and working with the boys. And I have two team moms! As my mom used to say, "the Lord doth provide!" I have a great coaching staff. Joe McGee pitched in college for four years and is my pitching coach. Mark Seal pitched and played infield through junior college and is working with infielders and coaching first base. Russell Denton has managed for years and is helping me with outfielders and running the dugout during games. Darrelle Pridgen is batting coach. He's coached for years, attended the clinics and has a good grasp on hitting technique. He's keeping the score book for me. Pete Nicolai has been helping with outfielders and giving general assistance when he's been available. Dawn McGee and Susan Seal are doing a great job as team mothers. All I've had to do was delegate, overesee and keep things moving. I'm really proud of these boys. I have the privilege this year of managing Robert Mowery, David Menchinger, Jon Pridgen, Cory Nolan, Corey Parker, Andy Foulk, Matt Cox, Matt Seal, Jonathan Chancey, Stephen Nicolai, Christopher Denton, and Zack McGee. They're working hard and hopefully learning a lot while also having some fun. There's only one thing I don't like about this whole experience. We're the Mets, of all people. I'm an avid Braves fan, so wearing Mets across my chest is taking some getting use to. But there's a solid reason we're the Mets. My son liked the colors. The uniform looks sharp. I've been addressed in a lot of ways through the years, but being called "coach" is a first. I think it's got a nice ring to it. (Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The church family invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. The church is located at 352 McDonough Road).
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