Entry #6 - 10/02/03

Where did September go? I can't believe our Fall Season is almost complete. I can only hope the winter goes by as fast in anticipation for this spring. We will conclude our Fall practice with our Blue/Gold World Series this weekend. Captains Andy Howdeshell and Tim Turner have drafted teams, set up their pitching rotation, set their lineups and devised their own signals for each of their teams. It should be a great series. During the fall both Tim and Andy have been on the same team every series, and their team has won every series. Something has to give this weekend. The stakes are high. There will be a cookout at my house after the series. The winners will eat a steak dinner, while the losing team will be served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The "Jingle Bell Road Race" is also at stake, and we all know how baseball players hate to run, especially in the cold and especially in the early morning. I am expecting a very intense and competitive series.

Before our game on Saturday we will have a BBQ for our players, families and friends. I want to thank Roger Hall and Charles Byrne for their help putting this together. This is a great time for our parents to meet and spend some time getting to know each other. I believe it is important that our parents put the effort into trying to develop relationships with each other just like their sons are doing with their teammates. Our parents do a great job of supporting our team and attending games both at home and on the road. If you as a parent attend 75% of your son's ballgames throughout his career that means you will spend almost 700 hours at the ball park. Wouldn't it be nice during those 700 hours to be able to visit, talk (second guess all my decisions) and enjoy the company of the other parents.

When we go on the road it sure would be nice to see everyone sitting together. Now I know that most of the Dads can't sit still during the game, but all I'm asking is that an effort be made to get to know each other and cheer for the success of all the players and not just for your own. Even if it is a young man who is starting ahead of your son. Wow! What a tough concept. Every day I talk to our ball club about being unselfish and being a team player. Some of you may do the same at your place of employment. For our ball club it is very simple and they must buy into the team concept or they will not be in our program very long. So I'm asking you as a parent to set a good example. It may not be easy but it is the right thing to do. One of my favorite quotes which I share with our players is, "Good things happen to good people." Especially those people who can look into the mirror and know they are doing the right things. It is human nature to be selfish. We are all born that way. What separates us from other species is that we don't have to be selfish. Place a steak in between two dogs and see what happens. They both try to get as much of the steak as they can, maybe resulting in a confrontation. When I place a toy in between my two boys, they both want it, but only one can have it at a time. Usually a confrontation results. We all have the choice whether we are going to be a team player or not. And only you know in your heart if you are making the right choice.

I have been asked to share some of my thoughts about joining a new conference (Atlantic Sun) when our affiliation with the Southern Conference runs out after the 2006 season. All I can say is that the Atlantic Sun will present us with a great opportunity and great challenge from a baseball point of view. I know our staff and ball players are excited about the change. We still have the opportunity to compete in the SoCon for the next two seasons, so that is our main concern and focus. In a future post I will go into more depth about my thoughts on the situation. Just like the Southern Conference, I have a great amount of respect for the all of the coaches and baseball programs in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Recently I just had another year of my life pass, and I want to thank all of those who sent birthday wishes. Although sometimes I can feel my body aging, I still feel young at heart and in mind. My wife, children and my players keep me feeling young. Driving home from practice last week my oldest son Tilo (four years old) and I were having a conversation and listening to the radio. I'm an avid lover of all music, but from my parents, older brothers and sister, I guess my taste for music was developed. If there is not a game on the radio then rarely does my station ever come off the "Oldies" station. Anything from the "Big Bands" to "Mo-Town" to songs from the 60's,70's and 80's is what I usually listen to in the car. This particular day we were going down the road and Tilo made the comment, "Hey Dad! No more "Oldies"." "Why don't we turn the station and listen to "Hip-Hop"." Immediately I thought to myself, how does he know what is "Hip-Hop"? So I turned the station and found a song to his liking. I turned the volume up and we "jammed" (that's what he calls it when we turn the volume up) all the way home. Looking in the rear view mirror I laughed as his head moved back in forth to the beat of the music. Suffice to say, my boys will grow up with more rhythm than their old man ever had. Until next time...

Coach Skole