Coach Dave Season Two: All-Stars: Coach Dave, #2

1

As soon as I entered the private room at Pasquali’s, I could sense the tension. This was my first all-stars wait party in Southburg, and I was hesitant to go. What good could come from the dads—and even some of the moms—of every twelve-year-old in the league gathering in one place, waiting on the coach to arrive to read the list? Sure, many would celebrate. But what about the parents of the players who didn’t make the team? I showed up anyway, uncertain into which group I would fall.

Hey, Brad! Didn’t know if you were going to make it. Bruce Garrison met me with an animated handshake.

I’m here, I replied. I’m still not so sure this is a good idea, though. I’m curious—everybody knows that every player can’t make the all-star team, right?

Oh, we know. I don’t look for Jimmy to make it this year. This is tradition, though, like hanging out on the courthouse lawn on the night of an election. You’re going to have some winners and some losers, but most of the parents come out just to be a part of the party.

So, how does the all-star selection process work?

Bruce was a great ambassador for the town of Southburg. Since my family had moved to the town a few months earlier and I had met Bruce at work, he had been my personal tour guide as we carpooled back and forth to work.  He was an amateur town historian, a curator of the nuances of living in this quiet suburban community. Always sure to add his opinions to the facts, Bruce had provided a wealth of information to help my family and me settle into Southburg. We had enjoyed watching our sons Jimmy and Rob play for Coach Dave Rivers’ Scarlet Knights during the spring and summer.

There are twelve spots on the team, Bruce began. "The tournament champion gets a minimum of three spots, and the runner-up gets at least two. All the coaches will meet together at 5:30 to nominate and haggle over who should be on the team. Their vote counts for the first eight players. After those are in place, the all-star coach will meet with the commissioner to add four more players. They will also name two alternates in case one of the boys gets hurt or drops out for whatever reason.

The coach also tells the commissioner who he wants as his assistant coaches. That’s usually a formality. It’s almost always his assistant coach and the head coach of the runner-up team, but this year could be interesting....

What do you mean?

Fletcher Brandt and Coach Dave working together? Come on, they’re not exactly peas and carrots.

I hadn’t thought about that. That’s a collision of baseball philosophies, for sure.

Fletcher Brandt had coached the rival Yankees in the regular season. To many of the dads on the Scarlet Knights, Brandt represented what was wrong with youth baseball. From all accounts the most important part of his life was winning twelve-year-old baseball games. His infamous little black notebook containing scouting reports on all the Southburg teams and players several years back was the object of much scorn. However, no one could argue with his success.

Anyway, the coaches usually don’t take very long to decide on the first eight players. They should be coming here in the next forty-five minutes or so. Sometimes, the coach and the commissioner take a while to sort out all the others. You want to make sure you have plenty of pitching and at least a couple of catchers and some kids who can play different positions. That should help some of our boys to make the team. Bryce Ford should be the first player on the roster, and several others should make it, too. Wyatt Logan, David Wayne Hamilton, Little Carlos, Cody Trimble, Bo Nelson, Hudson Jones...and don’t forget Rob Baker.

Rob is pretty nervous, I can tell you that. He thinks he might have a chance to make the team, but he’s a first-year player here and the other coaches don’t know him very well. He’s pretty versatile, though, like you say.

We should know in the next hour-and-a-half or so. Once the list is finalized, the coach and the commissioner will come here and read the list. They tell the other coaches not to reveal the first eight, but they usually leak it by the time the commish gets here. He knows that, so he reads those eight names right after he names the assistant coaches to allow for a little drama when the last four players and the alternates are named.

I bet the coach has some interesting conversations with parents of the kids who don’t make the team. Does the league provide security? I was only half joking.

Bruce laughed for a moment but realized that my chuckle in return was still a nervous one.

There’s no need for security. I know how intense it got out there on the fields at times, but we Southburgians can be quite civil, he said with a reassuring smile.

Slightly relieved by Bruce’s optimism, I made my way to the Scarlet Knight table. I was surprised by some of the parents in attendance. Their sons had no chance of making the all-star team, but there they were eating pizza, laughing, and conversing with all the others at the table.

Hey! It’s Brad Baker, joining us for his first Southburg All-Star wait party! shouted a fiery little guy named Carlos Rosales. His son was Little Carlos, better known as L.C. This was his second such party, so he took the initiative to make me feel welcome. Charlie Jones and Hunter Logan were the other first-timers. I greeted them along with Dean Ford, Doug Trimble, Tim Walker, Jerry Wilson, and the most boisterous Scarlet Knight booster, Gary Rooster Hamilton.

A few of the team moms sat at the table with the dads. One was Dean Ford’s wife; my wife, Kate, had often sat and cheered with her during the season. She was accompanied by another woman who looked tired and out of place. I had seen her before but couldn’t quite remember who she was or her connection to the team.

Brad, said Dean, you remember my wife, Hope. You may not have met Amy Forsythe.

Of course, I responded. Kevin’s mom.

A faint smile broke through her fatigued exterior at the mention of her son’s name.

I remembered Kevin’s mom from a couple of the games she had been able to attend. Dean had told the dads at the beginning of the season that she was a single mom who worked a couple of jobs. She was not able to attend many of her son’s games, but the Fords made sure that he was transported where he needed to go for all things baseball. Coach Dave had found a most unlikely role for Kevin—as his first base coach.

Your son may very well have a future as a coach, ma’am. He did a great job this season.

Thank you. He thinks the world of Coach Dave and all you guys, she answered, motioning around the table.

Privately, I wondered why Kevin’s mom was there. This whole wait party idea seemed more bizarre by the minute. All these adults were waiting anxiously for a list of twelve-year-olds on an all-star team, but there was not a single kid in the room. I felt as though I was missing something.

HEY, EVERYBODY, LOOK! yelled Rooster, pointing out the window. Here come the coaches!

A group of seven coaches strolled toward the door from the back of a crowded Pasquali’s parking lot. Well ahead of them, Yankee coach Fletcher Brandt marched toward the door. He burst into the room with an air of superiority that surprised no one in the room. Scanning the room, he marched toward our table.

Grrrr...there goes the party, Rooster blurted.

Fletcher. Dean reluctantly greeted the Yankee skipper on behalf of our group. No one stood or offered a handshake, but Fletcher seemed neither to notice nor to take offense.

Well, of course your boy Bryce was the easy first pick, he began, directing his quickly rehearsed speech toward Dean Ford. My center fielder jumps three inches higher and makes that catch, and maybe it’s a different story. Anyway, he earned it, and your coach gets to make the last few choices now. I hope he does the right thing and chooses Yankees to fill those last few spots. After all, we were the regular-season champs and beat you guys more than you beat us, so that ought to count for something.

Carlos Rosales and Doug Trimble, sitting to Rooster’s right and left, reached to restrain him, but they were too late. His cheeks flushed and his nostrils flared as he stood just more than an arm’s length away from the Yankee coach.

Now, listen here, Brandt. You knew going into that game what was at stake. You got out-coached by the new guy in town, so deal with it. You’ve been the all-star coach plenty of times, and you have loaded the roster with your own players every single time. He’s got the right to choose whoever he wants to be on that team.

Fletcher Brandt didn’t budge. Instead, he grinned. Yeah, you’re right, Rooster. I didn’t think Ford could hit it out that night, and I was almost right. But you better be glad that your coach will have someone with plenty of post-season experience there to help him.

Oh, I guess your little notebook has scouting reports on all the other all-star teams, too.

As a matter of fact, it does, Brandt responded, patting his left back pocket. What—do you not think it will help us win?

Dean chose that moment to intervene. Fletcher, I have no doubt that all your notes and preparation help win baseball games. But to me and to most of the folks at this table, winning twelve-year-old recreational league baseball games is not the most important part of our lives. Coach Dave may be younger and more inexperienced than you, but I believe there are some important life lessons you could learn from him.

We’ll see about that. I’ll tell you one thing: there’s no team in the state that should challenge us this year. We finished fourth last year in elevens without Ford. He glanced nervously at Dean. Some of those teams lost some players to travel ball. And speaking of travel ball, now’s as good a time as any to let you guys know that I’m starting a travel team in the fall. All-stars will be a good test to see how good we can be.

You’re making some assumptions, aren’t you, Fletcher?

Maybe so, but I believe my record speaks for itself.

Rooster snapped, What about your record for ruining pitchers and burning out kids on playing baseball? My boy won’t be playing for you, I can tell you that.

I haven’t asked him, the Yankee coach jeered.

Carlos half stood, interrupting. Now, boys, if you can’t play nice, I’m going to have to put you in separate corners and send you to bed without any supper.

I ain’t hungry, Rooster mumbled as Brandt made his way to the tables of parents from other teams. When he was out of earshot, Rooster turned back to our table. Would any of you guys let your boys play for him?

"That’s a no for me, Dean Ford replied. Thirteen is pretty age-appropriate to step up the level of competition, I’ll agree with Brandt about that. I had thought about letting Bryce try out for a travel team or maybe even starting one myself, but I still want him to have fun and have time for other interests. You guys know how hard Fletcher works those kids on his rec teams. Can you even imagine how hard he will drive a travel team?"

He’d probably build some dorms by that field in his back yard and have the kids live there, Rooster chimed in, decompressing from his exchange with Brandt. We laughed but we all seemed to lose our appetite for the generous amount of pizza left at our table.

WHO DO YOU THINK MAKES the team? Bruce asked. The most we could have from the Scarlet Knights is seven, but I don’t think we get any more than five.

Start with the pitchers and catchers, Doug said. We know that Bryce is in, and so is Brandt’s boy. Devan Counce and Jud Franklin—they give you two good lefties. There are some other good pitchers who can play other positions, mainly from our team, but I think everybody would agree that those four are easy choices.

Yep, Carlos said, and as far as catchers go, Rooster’s boy David Wayne and the Yankees’ catcher and the Dodgers’ catcher are all pretty good. I think since David Wayne can pitch that he’ll make the team and probably just one of the other two since they only catch.

Bruce held up six fingers. All right, who else?

Dean said, The Hawks had some pretty good hitters, but they were not very good on the mound or in the field. One or two of them, maybe? And I know he only played part of the season, but Wyatt should make the team.

Did he play enough games? Doug asked.

Carlos replied, You only have to play in twelve. Counting the tournament games, he had plenty. He can pitch, play shortstop and center field, hit, and run like a scalded dog. I think he’s in.

Dean said, I think Coach Dave’s insistence that our boys learn multiple positions has set them up pretty nicely to fill several spots on the roster. The other coaches set their lineups early in the season and stuck with them. We’ll have to wait and see, but I think the Scarlet Knights will be well represented on the all-star team.

We won’t have to wait much longer. Look! exclaimed Rooster.

Coach Dave and Buddy Daniels, the Southburg Baseball League commissioner, had just arrived and were climbing out of the commissioner’s car. Word spread quickly through the room. Coach Dave entered to complete silence and undivided attention. He nodded to our table on his way to the front of the room.

Good evening, everyone. Thanks for being here. Glancing to the other side of the Fords, he smiled. Ms. Forsythe, I’m so glad you could make it.

2

Buddy Daniels, a full -sized man with graying features, began, Good evenin’, ever’body. Welcome to the annual wait party for the Southburg All-Stars, twelve-year-old edition! I see several newcomers in the crowd tonight, and I want to welcome you to the festivities. I’m pretty confident that you’ve never been a part of an all-star announcement like we do it here in Southburg. I’ll take just a couple of minutes to explain the process of selecting all-stars, and then I’ll let this year’s head coach, Coach Dave Rivers of the Scarlet Knights, announce the team. I want to remind you that we’re here to celebrate the kids who make the team, not to fuss and fight about who ought and who ought not be on the team. We want to be able to continue to have these parties every year and get behind the boys as they try to bring back more championship trophies to the ‘Burg!

The crowd cheered enthusiastically before Commissioner Daniels settled into a description of the selection process that Bruce has already accurately described. When he motioned for Coach Dave to step forward, everyone in the room sat motionless.

Well, good evening, everyone, Coach Dave began. "I know that you have been eagerly anticipating the announcement of the team, but I wanted to say a few words first. First of all, let me say