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Community Corner

A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

How Dedham's Youth Baseball Program is teaching our kids how to be winners both on and off the field.

It’s August. And after approximately 80 games since March, baseball is officially over for the Shumways.

Exhale.

You see, we play more games than your average baseball family. With my husband coaching Nobles varsity baseball, Ben playing spring ball (and Andy assistant coaching) and then both of them playing/coaching the Dedham summer travel league, it consumes the majority of our free weeknights (and at least one game a weekend).

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 Although it’s a huge time commitment for the players, coaches and their families, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

There are so many facets of Dedham’s baseball program that make a Mom proud and they are neither the batting averages, shiny trophies nor the sharp maroon and gray uniforms.

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Rather, watching your son play as a critical member of a team and seeing how he handles himself while winning – and losing – tells you so much about who he is. It is such an invaluable life lesson to learn, and for it to happen under the watchful eye of a baseball coach, thereby giving you a free moment to fold some laundry or actually flip through a magazine is worth its weight in gold.

While all of this magic is happening on the field, the parents and siblings are busy on the sidelines swapping stories, sharing hot dogs and making lifelong friendships. I’ve said this before: the funny thing about baseball is that as long as you’re at the field, you’ll pick up an additional family. And our summer baseball family – the NoskyCoughlinFitzPatrickDeVirgilioCherryChuDeanRiveraKellyLittmarckCaseyShumwayMaher family – is one of the greatest groups of people you’ll ever meet. It’s part of the reason we all root so hard for the boys to keep winning… we don’t want to give up time with each other!

Perhaps one of the most impressive displays of what baseball is all about was, ironically, when the Dedham 9s lost last summer in the New England Tournament semifinals.

As hard as it was to watch these kids (and their coaches) realize that their journey had just ended, it was astounding to see how they held themselves. Sure, there were a few tears (including my own), but instead of slamming bats or stomping their feet, they lined up to shake the hands of the team that had just beat them and then thanked the umpires for calling the game.

Holding their young heads high and showing pride in a game well played showed a maturity and level of class far beyond their nine years.

Thanks to the coaches, these boys learn to cheer on their opponents, win with grace and lose with dignity. Their circle of friends and family spreads exponentially, and they have a blast playing a game that they love. If that’s the price for watching hours upon hours of youth baseball then count me in.

With the exception of a few key losses and a couple of extra pounds thanks to said hot dogs, I’d say it’s been another perfect season, and I’m already looking forward to next year!

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