Editor-in-Chief:
C.J. Ortuno
Issue Number 2
December 31,
2002
GM's Point of View
Dear
Parents and Players,
Life is inevitably not without difficulty, and as a new
parent I often reflect upon those lives that meet
unwarranted hardship. Orphans, widows, or mourners;
those who cannot help their misfortune but only manage it
through time and guidance. It has come to my attention
that some parents allow this idea of “misfortune” to slip
from their consciousness. I only single out the
parents, and not the children, because as a child misfortune
rarely holds impact, but as a parent we have the ability to
reflect upon those less fortunate than ourselves. Why,
in a little league newsletter, am I even addressing matters
such as misfortune and sorrow? Allow me to explain my
thoughts: My wife relayed to me how our only daughter’s
basketball team has only won two games out of a fifteen game
season. As she finished her statement she followed by
saying: “Isn’t that awful, she has only won two games this
season.” My response was, “No it is not awful, she has
good positive coaches, she is healthy and winning is not
what is important.”
Thankfully my program does not allow for parent coaching,
however, as many of you begin your season I
beg of the parents to look toward the purpose of
participating in a social and team sport. It is certainly
not winning or losing, or whether your child gets to play
his favorite position. Look past that to discover whether your
child is developing as social and competent being.
Determine if your son or daughter is improving and being
encouraged in this great game, because, I’m sorry I have to
break the news to many of you parents, countless numbers of
children will not play this or any game professionally.
However, always remember that a positive experience in
little league sports will only nurture success. It’s a GRRRRREEEEAAATT DAY FOR BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!
General
Manager
Coaches Corner
At the coach’s corner you may find out a
little more than you want to know about a coach. This
week it is Coach C.J. Coach C.J. has been with Danny for
over 20 years. He started as a camper when he was 6 years
young. He started working at the age of 13 and has never
stopped going. Coach C.J. attended Florida International
University where he attained his Bachelors in History
degree and hopes one day to teach. He is a black belt
in karate and he loves his brand new motorcycle.
Sports Section
Normally
this section will give you
highlights and final scores of all our games.
Here your son or daughter is given the chance to
see his or her name in the paper and some of his/her
achievements in their latest game.
Each player is reminded that they will see their name
in the sports section only if he or she shows a good
attitude.
Since
the regular season is not under way, this section will be
considerably shortened. Coach Danny is evaluating the teams and making all the
measurements for the uniforms.
We only have a couple of weeks until opening day so
it is important that all players have perfect attendance
to ensure that all teams are made as even as possible.
Tip of the Day
In each
issue we have a tip of the day. Parents and players
should take advantage of this segment since both can learn
something new. Today’s tip is a fielding tip. Often
times you hear a coach telling a player to have soft hands
when fielding a ground ball. Well this doesn’t mean to
put lotion on your hands so your skin is soft. This means
to treat the baseball like an egg. What happens if you
handle an egg rough and carelessly? It would break! But
if you concentrate on giving with the hands as the egg or
ball enters your glove the egg will remain in one piece.
As you approach a ground ball bend the knees and extend
the arms, fielding the ball in front of your body with
soft hands. If you watch a professional field a ball it
seems as if the ball never stops moving. It is one
continuous motion from the ground to the glove right into
the bare hand for the throw. Improve your hands with a
flat glove or pancake glove, which is a glove that cannot
be folded and is like a board. While using a flat glove
the player is forced to use soft hands and cannot rely on
the fingers of the glove enclosing around the ball. A
flat glove can be purchased at Danny Berry’s sport shop
and that is the tip of the day!!!!!
