Lots of good out there this year. What else can you say…..Johnny McCraw, Mike Macenko,
Bobby NiFong, Joey Michals and Johnny Dykes all worked hard helping the campers with their
swings. Johnny Mac's boss wanted him in California this weekend but Johnny worked out his
schedule so he could be here Thursday and Friday before flying out early Saturday morning. I
really appreciated that Johnny!!! Bobby NiFong stepped in when Johnny left and did a fantastic
job. The "Big Cat" Mike Macenko was down for his third straight year and did a super job with
the campers. Mike even got sometime to launch some bombs of his own and as usual he stayed
until the last camper (Liam) was gone! All of these guys donated their time. I saw Joey Michals
working over time of Field#3. All these guys did a fantastic job helping campers. I can't say
enough good things about this group. In addition, J-Mac and the "Big Cat" held a hitting clinic
near the bleachers on Field #2 Friday providing campers an excellent opportunity to pick their
brains for tips and techniques.
I got a lot of e-mails telling me about the great job these guys did and how down to earth they
are. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to send them to me.
I want to thank Johnny Dykes for allowing me the opportunity to run the Johnny Dykes
Pitching Clinic, just kidding Johnny!! Next year we'll run the clinic later in the day!! By the way
Johnny, I owe you an apology for the underwear joke. I didn't realize until afterwards you had
your kids at the banquet. Sorry about that! Now, speaking about the J/D Pitching Clinic we
were located past the third baseline between the fields and we were discussing about pitcher's
safety when we hear a"heads up" call just as a line drive strikes Ray Wimbrough in the lower
shin. I know it hurt but I'll give him props as he wouldn't rub it!! Ray, I hope that leg is getting
better!
There were lots and lots of batting practice and the balls were flying out of all fields, OK, maybe
not so much so on the senior field but that didn't curb the fun! The mini draft was a success
with close to 70 campers signing up to play. There was a little confusion on the rules as some
fields were playing the 1 pitch as a 2 pitch. Hey, what do you expect for $100? LOL.
The flat belly division of the home run derby was won by Chris Cornelius of Brandon,Florida
with 3 home runs in 6 swings and Bruce Fairchild (Bruceinga) won the Senior Division hitting 3
home runs in 6 swings.
If you didn't see the Super Home Run Division you really missed a great display of hitting as J-
Mac lined a ball well into the trees and two lefties, Johnny Dykes of Jacksonville, Florida and
Brett Kreuger of Tacoma, Washington battled into a five round sudden death shootout. Johnny
Dykes finally pulled it out but this might have been some of the absolute best hitting at the CST
this year. Brett Kreuger absolutely destroyed balls hitting scuds which looked like they cleared
the old lady's house in right field. A couple of our guys tried to go into her yard to retrieve the
balls but changed their mind when they saw her watching them from the porch. I couldn't help
but notice that come Saturday morning she had hung four very large bras on her clothes line
right by the fence line. I didn't know if this was a threat or a invitation? Maybe Liam knows?
Our local Jacksonville Beach resident, Keith Gibbs aka "fastover55" won the senior base
running competition with a time of 12.64 and Ed Frederick of ?Caledonia, Michigan won the
Flat Belly Division with a time of 12.47. The winner of the events were presented with a trophy
and a bat bag supplied by Obie and Ed Anderson of The Ultimate Sports Co. Congratulations
guys!!
The big winner at the banquet this year was Liam Gannon, currently stationed in Portugal.
Liam was given $40 for traveling the furthest to get to the CST. After hearing his story of
sitting in a military airport for four days trying to catch a flight to the states and then having
his bats crushed during shipping I couldn't help but think we need to do all we could to help
him.... so he was given the opportunity to trade that $40 for whatever was in the bat box
behind the podium. After receiving plenty of advice from the audience, and knowing $40 looks
like $4,000 to a military man, I could see Liam leaning toward rejecting the trade offer, at last,
he "kept an open mind" and with a little "off microphone" advice from me "to just trust me" he
finally elected to roll the dice and see what was in the box............Liam picked up a nice plastic
bat and ball..........they say a fool and his money are soon parted but Liam looked up at me and
said, this will be a great gift for my son and he happily started back to his seat. However, before
he could get seated, he was called back to the front where he received a NIW Worth Mayhem
(Green). Liam went back to his seat with a smile on his face. Bobby NiFong, our Combat
representative wasn't about to let Liam slip off into the Worth world without a fight as he
jumped up and presented Liam with a NIW J-Mac Combat bat. Now my boy was smiling like a
blind man in a black out. Ed Anderson, feeling the "spirit of this event", quickly stated "You'll
need a bat bag for those bats" and presented him with an Ultimate Bat bag from The Ultimate
Sports Co. Now my boy is set!!!...........But wait, Gary Deaton was heading his way with a $100
bill in his hand and a life time of advice when he said, "here is $100 son, don't buy any boxes
with it".
I didn't catch any local guys slipping into the event this year so either we are getting better
keeping them out or they are getting better at hiding? Look for name tags next year so people
can put names to faces. Look for a expanded prison game program as we continue and expand
our reach out program. By the way, a "Special Thank You" to Kenny Phillips for arranging the
games at the prison, leaving his home in Ft. Lauderdale at 3:00 am to meet our guys at the
prison at 8:00 am, staying with our guys during the event, praying with our group and the
prisoners after the games and then driving back home afterwards and never asking for a dime.
Kenny, I can't thank you enough!!! If you have never experienced this you really need to, it
might be your only chance to play in front of a "captive" audience of 1,200 people. Just joking
on the "captive" comment. These prisoners really appreciate our group coming over and
playing as they are a pretty neglected group in our society. We collect bats, balls and gloves
before the trip to leave them at the prison for these guys to use but more important than that
we leave these guys our prayers.
I had guys like Johnny Dykes and Bobby NiFong, upper level players, tell me in the past that
they couldn't quite figure out what this event was all about. Why would you pay $100 to go hit
BP? Well, this year, they both attended the field work and the banquet. Right after the
banquet, they both approached me and said that they get it now! It's the camaraderie, its the
friendships made, that can be nurtured over years, its the family spirit of caring about each
other, its the common love for the game, its leaving just being a tad bit better person than what
you were when you arrived or................maybe its the give-aways!
I'm sure there is plenty I forgot to mention like I would like to have as many of this year's
group back next year as possible because you have been absolutely great. OK,.......that's a rap
on the 09' event.