President

They reminisce about Saturdays at the Ball Park, shuttling kids to practices, and intense parents on the other side of the field. They quickly follow with, “I sure do miss those days.” Then, they send me on my way with a friendly warning to soak it all up and enjoy every minute, because before long the kids will be grown!

We are still way too busy to spend time reminiscing, but it is important to reflect on why these times are so important. In those lazy Saturday games, Nancy and I are watching our boys – Jake, Cade, and Dane – create strong friendships. They are developing confidence, self–esteem, and leadership. They are learning how to play nice and how it feels to be counted on. They are discovering how to coax the best out of themselves and their teammates. These skills and behaviors are important and will help them succeed in their education, sports, careers, and relationships.

Now, as another Spring Season is quickly approaching, I am shocked to realize that this is our 8th year in this league and that my boys have dutifully recorded the passing of 7 Spring Seasons with 17 brass plates on three plaques.

While the seasons pass quickly, the game has a wonderful pace. This is one game where there is no clock ticking down the final seconds. Instead, baseball moves deliberately and with purpose. There is time to enjoy a hot dog and a Coke while chatting with friends. For the players, the game is sometimes secondary to the post-game race to the snackshack to spend that hard earned token.

My message is simple. We are fortunate to have this time with our family, our friends, and our neighbors. Let’s make the most of this time to enjoy the community that we live in and create. We may not fully appreciate this time now, but we will eventually cherish these moments and maybe even wonder how they slipped away so quickly.

See you on the fields!

Dr. Daryl Watkins
President
president@eylll.com