august2009

DIAMOND DIRT - MUSINGS

August 19, 2009

Bettendorf, IA

DIAMOND DIRT - MUSINGS
By John Thompson
 
At the Hall of Fame breakfast,ISC Treasurer Charlie Smith of El Paso, TX announced the recipients of the 2009 Scholarships from the Carroll Forbes Foundation. Kevin Boyd of Newmarket, ON and B J Hunhoff of Harrisburg, SD, playing with the Fargo Kegel Black Knights,  are beneficiaries of financial awards to assist with their academic education. Congratulations to both. 
 
“I can sit in a ballpark after a game and love looking at the field. Everybody’s gone, and the ballpark is empty, and I’ll sit there. I sit there and think ‘Is this as close to heaven as I’m going to get? Or, if I get to heaven, will there be baseball?’” – Kim Voisard, Colorado Silver Bullets.
 
Has anyone seen a softball hit harder than the line shot laced back by Thomson Merchants B J Gullick at Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins P Dean Holoien on Saturday evening. Holoien’s lightning reflex snared the laser scant inches from his face preventing a base hit… and a potentially serious injury. Stronger players and new-age technologically potent bats require that all infielders (and base coaches) be alert at all times.
 
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do: I stare out the window and wait for spring.” – Rogers Hornsby, baseball legend
 
In pursuit of a 50th career ISC win from the mound, Canadian pitcher Mike Piechnik – “I feel like a fish out of water - because I can’t play.” Although he’s suited up with the Vancouver Grey Sox, an injury prevents him from playing and 2009 will not be the season he gets that 50th win. Maybe 2010 in Midland, MI.
 
“I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?” – enlightenment from Yogi Berra, Yankee great
 
Michael White, a member of the Class of 2009 on his induction into the ISC Hall of Fame, stressing the importance of athletes, and specifically softball players, getting their “edumacation” to prepare for the employment careers - “There’s life after softball…. and you can’t eat softballs.”
 
Note to ISC managers and coaches – “Most ball games are lost, not won!” – venerable Casey Stengel, New York Yankees field boss  
 
Bob Wills, on his induction into the ISC Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2009, on renewing acquaintances at Green Valley, offered his own “Being Kind Award” stating – “It’s so nice to see many so people at the park who have only changed ‘slightly.’”
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