Early experiences in learning to play the game of baseball can shape a child in ways that extend beyond the field. And in our game of the week, featuring 7-8-year-old Coach Pitch teams at Wards Recreation Center on Tuesday, opposing coaches focused on building these youngsters up in a sport that teaches them so much about life.
The 21-0 win that Team Impact achieved over Rhodes Investment Jaguars was decided early on. Team Impact batted around each of their three innings.
Ashton Dean lead off the first inning with an inside the park home run and teammate Jayden Nash ended the inning the same way.
“I’ve been with this group of players for the most part since they were all three-years-old,” said Team Impact head coach Corey Holmes. “It’s all about learning, growing and developing in the sport.”
In the other dugout, Rhodes Investment head coach Manford Thurmond has several first-year players who are just getting exposed to the game.
Even though the score was lopsided, it was evident that Rhodes Investments defense and hitting were improving. Kieston Nichols led Rhodes investments going 2 for 2 at the plate with two singles. In his team’s final at-bat, it appeared that Nichols had scored his team’s only run on an errant throw.
But, the ball skipped into his team’s dugout and he was called back to third base with two outs.
The next batter grounded out to shortstop. “It all about fundamentals,” Thurmond said. “I just tell them to keep playing hard and that practice makes perfect.”
