By JOHN ARBTER
woodctystringer@gmail.com
This season, Saturdays are banner days at the Mineola Youth Foundations ballparks.
The foundation has contracted D3Tournaments to conduct a series of one-day tournaments to keep the park filled with young ballplayers.
Last Saturday, 35 teams from T-ballers to U14 baseball poured into town. Robert Hamlin, who runs D3Tournaments, figured that meant around 400 ballplayers. “You expect that each ballplayer had, on average, two people in support, and that is a lot of folks,” Hamlin stated.
The six active fields were buzzing with fast paced tournament games. Teams came from as far away as Longview, Atlanta and Mabank in search of competition. Of course, local teams were also aplenty.
It took a different kind of team to prepare for and host the event. Justin Clower was at the fields at 4:00 a.m. cutting outfields and sweeping infields. There were 14 umpires in action for the day. Seven folks were working concessions and two people collected fees at the gates. A number of them were recognizable as Mineola High School softball and baseball players.
A one-day tournament redefines what ‘a long day’ means, but it is all for a noble purpose.
As Hamlin stated, “to lead kids in the right direction.”
Hamlin has a long relationship with the Mineola Youth League and has been running
D3Tournaments for eight years at places like Sulphur Springs. This is the first year he has been contracted to stage them in Mineola.
He explained, “We wanted to offer meaningful competition and to conclude the tournament in one day, a Saturday. Most tournaments are two days, Saturday and Sunday. We wanted to remove the conflict with church, and let folks play ball all day on a Saturday and honor their Sunday obligations as well.”
As one t-shirt spotted at the ballparks proclaimed, ‘Jesus and Baseball.’
There were other statements made on attire worn to the park. Among other appropriate messages were: ‘My Heart is on the field,’ ‘Slugger’s Mom,’ and a t-shirt that featured a raccoon sitting in some bleachers eating concessions. The quote was, ‘I’m taking up residency here.’
With so many ballplayers in one place, it was a brisk business at the snow-cone trailer.
According to proprietor Norma Delacruz, the top flavors this season are Tiger Blood and
Rainbow. “Although,” she stated, “I think it has more to do with the blue color that the flavor.” It was a good day for Delacruz.
If folks got hungry, they lined up for concessions. Inside, a half-dozen folks were hustling. Frieda Meadows manned the grill. “I was retired and bored,” she said between flipping burger patties, “so I figured I would help out, and I truly enjoy it.” Tamara Hamlin, Robert’s spouse and Frieda’s daughter, was also preparing food.
Umpires Shawn Hopper and Preston Haskins were caught as they stepped toward their
next assignment. Hopper is continuing a 34-year love affair with the game and has a
son playing in the 10U division. Haskins acknowledged that there are moments when one could see a baseball ‘light-bulb’ turn-on in a kid’s eyes.
The Youth League complex is large, featuring six active fields. “There is a long list of projects,” Hamlin conceded. He shared that four of the fields have new lighting, but that two of the fields have lighting which is 30 years old and in need of replacement. “That is our next big project,” he explained.
The Youth League receives support from the Meredith Foundation, from local donors, and volunteers. “We also have folks that just show up and work for the day,” Hamlin noted. A look around the complex reveals that there is much more to be done. There are improvements year by year, but it is a large area.
All the work and time is certainly worthwhile. Hamlin described, “If it gets kids off the couch and involved in team sports, it is all worth it. A team atmosphere builds better adults.”