Well, let me tell ya somethin’ about that there De Pere baseball. It ain’t just a game, it’s a whole dang thing ’round here. Them kids, they start young, swingin’ bats almost bigger than they are. It’s a sight, I tell ya. And they all dream of makin’ it big, playin’ under them bright lights.
Now, my grandson, Billy, he’s knee-high to a grasshopper, but he’s got the heart of a lion. He’s playin’ that De Pere baseball, and he’s learnin’ all them fancy terms. “Fundamentals,” they call it. Sounds important, don’t it? They teach ’em how to throw, how to catch, how to hit that little white ball clear outta the park.
The coaches, bless their hearts, they got their work cut out for ’em. They say, “Pick your drills,” like pickin’ berries from a bush. And “repeat them often,” like sayin’ your prayers every night. It’s all about that practice, practice, practice. De Pere baseball ain’t for the faint of heart. You gotta work at it, day in and day out.
- Throwin’ the ball
- Catchin’ the ball
- Hittin’ the ball
- Runnin’ them bases
And them coaches, they tell them kids to practice on their own, too. Like doin’ chores, I reckon. Gotta keep at it, even when nobody’s watchin’. That’s how you get good, that’s how you make somethin’ of yourself in that De Pere baseball game.
They got rules, too, lots of ’em. And you gotta learn ’em all if you wanna play. I seen the website, all fancy with the *. They got league rules, and links, more stuff than you can shake a stick at. It’s all up to date, they say. But I don’t know, this old gal prefers to just watch from the bleachers, you know?
They say every one of them little players has a job to do on the field. Even if you ain’t the one catchin’ the ball, you gotta be doin’ somethin’. “Responsibility,” they call it. Just like in life, I suppose. You gotta pull your weight, do your part. De Pere baseball teaches ’em that, I reckon.
And then there’s that “stealing” thing. Sounds naughty, don’t it? But it’s part of the game, I guess. They gotta be quick, gotta be sneaky. “Defending the steal,” they call it. Like protectin’ your garden from them pesky rabbits. It’s all part of that De Pere baseball.
They talk about “quality instruction” and “sportsmanship.” Fancy words for teachin’ ’em right and playin’ fair, I reckon. That’s important, you know. You gotta learn how to win, but you gotta learn how to lose, too. That’s what they say about that De Pere baseball.
My Billy, he comes home all dirty and sweaty, but with a big ol’ grin on his face. He loves that game. And I love watchin’ him play. It’s somethin’ special, that De Pere baseball. It brings folks together. It’s more than just a game, it’s a community. The coaches teach them kids that. They teach them good.
They got all them teams, too. Little kids, bigger kids, all playin’ their hearts out. And the parents, they’re all hollerin’ and cheerin’. It’s a real hootenanny, I tell ya. It’s loud, like a flock of geese, but fun. The folks love their De Pere baseball.
I remember when my own boy, Billy’s daddy, used to play. He wasn’t much for the fancy stuff, but he could run like the wind. He’d steal them bases like he was stealin’ chickens from the coop. Made me proud, he did. Now it’s all about these drills, and fundamentals, and whatnot. But the heart is still there. The love of the game. They still have that in De Pere baseball.
- They learn how to be a team.
- They learn how to win.
- They learn how to lose.
- They learn to never give up.
So, yeah, that De Pere baseball, it’s somethin’ else. It’s more than just a game. It’s about life lessons and hard work, and havin’ fun. I reckon. Them kids, they learn a lot out there on that field. And us old folks, we learn a thing or two watchin’ ’em. It’s a good thing, this whole De Pere baseball thing. A real good thing.
I tell you what, that De Pere baseball, it’s just a whole lot of runnin’ and yellin’ and throwin’ that little ball around. But them kids, they sure do love it. And the folks around here, they love watchin’ it, too. It’s like a big party every time they play. And I guess that’s what makes it so special, ain’t it?
Anyways, that’s all I got to say about that De Pere baseball. It’s a good thing for them kids. And who knows, maybe one of ’em will make it big someday. Maybe my Billy. That would be somethin’, wouldn’t it? Yep, that would be somethin’ special, just like that there game they call baseball.
