The greatest game of all

Baseball, the other “giant leap” for mankind ... the greatest sport ever. Have you seen your Oak Harbor players lately? The high school varsity down to the minor A’s and T-ball baseball and fastpitch are slogging it out in this Whidbey weather. They travel long miles to even worse weather, just to take a shot at hitting the ball and playing the game. The kicker is the pitch takes less than one second to get to home plate and it takes one tenth of a second for a player to swing and make a hit (if they hit); it sometimes takes weeks. Where’s the satisfaction?

Baseball, the other “giant leap” for mankind … the greatest sport ever.

Have you seen your Oak Harbor players lately? The high school varsity down to the minor A’s and T-ball baseball and fastpitch are slogging it out in this Whidbey weather. They travel long miles to even worse weather, just to take a shot at hitting the ball and playing the game. The kicker is  the pitch takes less than one second to get to home plate and it takes one tenth of a second for a player to swing and make a hit (if they hit); it sometimes takes weeks. Where’s the satisfaction?

Over a playing career spanning nearly 20 years, Pete Rose, the all time leading hitter in Major League Baseball history (4,256 hits) spent only 1 hour, 10 minutes and 56 seconds at the plate taking the pitch and turning that pitch into a hit: A lifetime of complete dedication.

Likewise dedicated, each player of our own Oak Harbor varsity and JV has spent fewer than 10 minutes in the last 10 to 12 years successfully turning pitches into hits and sometimes winning the game. Talk about commitment!

I am personally inspired by watching all players pursuing the science to perfect the art of making contact. By the looks on their faces, I am reminded that these players know this game can come down to one second after hours of battling and each one of them hopes to be that batter. Thank you players for representing yourselves, your team and our city. You are winners in the greatest game ever played. Especially you, Will.

Dave DeMarsh
Owner, Cascade
Athletes LLC
Oak Harbor