Four Players

 

They sat with their backs against the wall.

Their backs really had been against the wall, fighting for their baseball lives as a four-run lead had evaporated.

Now, it was tied.

A walk, a strikeout, and a fielder's choice had them set up to win it. Then two intentional walks. Then, a base hit down the line.

Trumbull 5, Quincy 4. That eliminated Quincy and kept Trumbull's dream of making the Babe Ruth World Series in Virginia alive.

Trumbull plays Waterford, CT tomorrow morning. The winner heads to the championship of the New England Regional.

But now, four of the winners sat behind the first base dugout, their backs pressed against the wall, They wore their dirty uniforms, partially untucked, eye black decorating their cheeks.

They could have been Mays and Mantle and Robinson and Ruth. 

But they were four 13-year-olds.

I said hi as I walked by and congratulated them.

"Thank you," they said in unison.

Then one spoke up softly.

"We're listening to your broadcast."

Suddenly, I could hear it. It was coming from one of their phones.

It was my voice.

They told me they were listening to an earlier broadcast and that they really enjoyed it.

Maybe they are. Maybe they're just being nice.

Maybe both.

But I was touched.

Like, really touched.

Four kids, laughing and talking and listening to a rebroadcast of their game, which happened to be called by me.

And they approved.

I'm not getting rich doing these games and that's OK. It's another year and a new cast of people but, once again, Trumbull has welcomed me with open arms.

This is what makes the experience worth it. It's not about the prestige and anyone wanting to look down at me, well, that's on them. I'm happy doing this. It's a grind, no question, but a grind that I enjoy when it's all over.

It's not so much about the work that I do. Sure, there are kind words and I'm really grateful but it's giving coverage to the kids for games that wouldn't get covered. There has not been a single other media person around Trumbull High School this week.

I get it. It's summer and budgets are tight and so on.

But not one.

Other than me.

That's not slapping myself on the back. That's just a fact.

Players enjoy hearing their names. Families enjoy hearing the players' names. Everyone enjoys the attention. This is how it works.

I'm that conduit, providing the coverage that they deserve.

And that they seem to like.

Four players seemed to be happy.

Sitting against a dugout wall on a hot day as a thunderstorm loomed.

They laughed the laughs of a winning team looking forward to their next game.

Baseball played on a device in the background.

Audio only.

It sure sounded sweet.

*****

I won't put out another "press release" but the listens for this morning's game far outdid the game from last night that prompted that post. I'm overwhelmed but it speaks to the power of sports radio (audio) and the desire for coverage. 

*****

I'll be on "Melissa in the Morning" tomorrow morning on WICC Radio in Bridgeport to talk about the Babe Ruth tournament and the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Join me at 7:35 a.m.

*****

Suzyn Waldman, the longtime Yankees' radio broadcaster, as well as a trailblazing reporter on WFAN before that, has been named a 2022 inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame. I get it. You don't love her. "Oh my goodness gracious, Rogah Clemens," blah blah blah. But I think you should respect her. There comes a point where the criticism gets foolish. 

She's remarkable. I congratulate her.