LETTER: Learning lessons on the baseball field

To the Editor:

The coaches of Somerset Legion baseball have hit a foul ball! These coaches do not represent the long-standing tradition of American Legion Baseball. Since 1925 the American Legion has promoted organized baseball for youth in their own communities and have taught sportsmanship, teamwork, respect for the game, playing by the rules and active citizenship in their respective communities.

Most athletic programs teach courage and respect for others involved in the competition – on and off the field. Where are these aspects being taught to the participants of Legion baseball in Somerset?

Tryouts have been closed to all but a select few in Somerset, even closed to those that played on the high school varsity and junior varsity baseball teams in Somerset. Some of the current American Legion Baseball players are from other communities, such as Hudson. There are five to 10 qualified players from Somerset High School that could have tried out but were not allowed to. Why are the coaches reaching past the borders of Somerset? Are the wages of fair competition too high? Has Corporate America taught us that, by shipping jobs south and winning at all costs, that’s the only thing that matters?

The current players on the field know the score. What kind of lessons are the Somerset coaches teaching these young men? Dion Langness and Jerry Waalen have coached for a couple years in Somerset and have ascribed to uphold the rules of the game mandated by the governing body of the American Legion. These coaches represent the American Legion, town and team and have a responsibility to play by the rules!

I tried to find the answer to some of these questions through the appropriate channels and was told that Somerset Legion baseball is endorsed by Somerset Little League. Well, the assistant coach of Legion baseball sits on the fundraiser committee with Somerset Little League.

Would there be a conflict of interest there? The baseball coaches at the high school level have said “players from their respective communities should be allowed to try out and should be open to all who want to play.” One of the unwritten rules of the game is that the coaches are there for the kids … the game is for the kids … respect the game … the whole game! The lessons on and off the field are being learned even when there is a foul ball.

Jerry Sullivan

Somerset

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, somerset