Richard in Cooperstown, NY

A couple of years ago, our son Richard had the opportunity to go play baseball in Cooperstown, NY on the Doubleday field. Richard had never been one to get overly enthused about sports events, not even baseball but I thought for sure he would get how cool it was to be able to do this. He was in between colleges at the time as he was about to transfer to Florence. There was a chance he might not go since the trip was to take place during tournaments, should his team make it out of Sectionals. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the Voles didn’t secure a spot on the next tournament and so he parted and headed to Ohio to play for the Delaware Cows.

http://www.delawarecows.com/

So the players whose college teams were in the same situation as his made their way to Cooperstown, NY and it’s only after he visited the Baseball Hall of Fame that he got excited about playing there. A photographer took pictures during the game and we had wanted to buy some as souvenirs for Richard but the prices were out of our range at the time so we contented ourselves with printing the proofs off the computer. Better than nothing but… I went back to the site a week or so ago hoping to see them again and was tickled pink that they were still there and I could still buy them. SO I did. I could not buy all of them as the packages only gave one picture at a time. I bought 4 of them and one will be on a poster. I know that was not the happiest summer for him but I hope he likes the pictures all the same.
The photographer called today because he needed some information to put on the poster. I look forward to seeing them. Breaking into professional sports is not easy.
Richard went on to play for the Lions the next two years and enjoyed playing on USA Field in Millington, TN his first year with UNA. He would have liked winning that tournament but it was not meant to be.
He would have to be content with his Conference ring from John A Logan College in Carterville, IL.
I don't know if he is really reconciled to the idea he may never play again but he has found a positive way to channel his talent by helping coach a team in Indy. Their success will show him that there can be satisfaction in helping others succeed too.