While the success of a baseball game is often determined by the final score, these two games played were successful by the sheer number of “old timers” that wanted to relive their past and see what, if any, they had left in them before they go out to pasture.
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Shortly after all 18 Alumni players were announced, the game began with a bang as the old timers put two runs on the board in the first inning. Who cares that the youngest of the bunch, pitcher Seth Bateman age 14, was facing the old guy, Uncle Jed Bateman at the ripe age of 38 yrs 11 months. The wiser and older of the two prevailed. But soon after, the reality of trying to play a young man’s game again set in on the aging Bateman as he realized he still had a hamstring but it wasn’t the same one he used to play on. He came up lame breaking for home, but still managed to score on the play. A fitting end for him as Jed scored the first official run ever on this field back in 1994. He was carted off with the crowd of onlookers applauding his efforts. Jed said, “I was kind of bummed, I surprised myself with how excited I was to play in this game."
It was the energy the Alumni players displayed that was the excitement of the day. At the end of the first game, the youngsters walked away with the “W.” Pitching coach Birch Rose called in their flamethrower Justin Anderson to keep the game tied at 7-7 in the 8th inning. Anderson, who has been touted to throw near the 90 mph mark in his glory days, had the boys a bit nervous and knee knocking as he was warming up. Anderson’s first pitch sailed high and out of reach of the catcher’s mitt for a wild pitch and the youngsters won 8-7.
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Jake Johnson, pushing mid 30’s, played like Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals and actually threw out two Legion base runners in the process. As of Monday morning, he was still on the massage table getting treatment. “Jake told me to send him a few base stealers, I did, and he didn’t disappoint, he still has it,” Cal Bateman said.
Birch Rose and Mike Schulte, both assistant coaches of the current Legion and high school programs, showed the youngsters how to play the game both on the field and at the plate. Schulte threw the first three innings of the game and displayed the grit of his past and blasted a ball off the fence in the second game to remind the boys that he’s still “got game.” Rose, who was quite the pitcher in high school and college, kept the hitters at bay with a mixture of fastballs (maybe mid 60’s, sorry Birch) and a very slow curve.
There was Matt Clark who made a spectacular diving stop at third in the first game and ran like a deer around the bases. Todd Bateman, whose only goal was to show his nephews Brady and Seth that he too could still play, played multiple positions and crushed the ball. Derek Barnhardt, who had several hard hits, felt like he was hit by a truck the next day and Ben Greenslitt, former Gonzaga Bulldog player, had this to say on Facebook: “Great day! Sore muscles #old #fat,” but still managed to hit three hits in the second game and a running catch in left. When you walked by the Alumni dugout it looked like a MASH unit with band aids, gauze pads, knee braces and smelled like a Ben Gay factory.
Birch Rose: “I feel like a small herd of ponies just trampled me.”
Todd Bateman: “I am comically sore, but it was worth it.”
Collin Gause: “Great time, couldn’t have asked for a better day, match-up, or fans!”
Mike Schulte: "It was great to see all the baseball 'family' from the last 21 years back together at the field again....can't wait to do it again."
The Alumni game was filled with six current/past coaches of the High School program/Legion which included guys like Mike Schulte, Jake Johnson, Birch Rose, Clint Arthur, Justin Anderson, and Kevin Dinning.
These men have provided invaluable lessons of life and baseball to the young men of Bonners Ferry, and at the end of the game the Alumni players shared with the 14-18 yr. olds the future of their lives and how to live life.
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The second game ended in a 13-11 victory for the current Legion team, but not before one big comeback from the Alumni players.
“Having coached most of these alumni players for two years, many years ago," said Cal Bateman, "it brought me great happiness to see them play again. I was a little emotional watching them in their pre-game warm ups. Seeing them again, knowing what a great group of men they are, watching them play with the energy of their youth. I think I can speak for all in attendance when I say it was a GREAT DAY! It was a pleasure for family and friends to come out again and reunite friendships and memories. Thank you for allowing us this experience.”
Added Todd Bateman: “What a great experience. I think there was a lot of excitement and anticipation from this alumni group heading into the game. We had a great time out there. What we lacked in agility and ability we made up for in enthusiasm and love for the game. Perhaps the best highlight of it all was seeing all the parents and fans. The same support that meant so much to us years ago was out there to cheer us on once again. We are very fortunate to be a part of such a great community.”
As of early Monday morning, word was that approximately 18 men called in sick to their respective jobs to continue the healing process after playing Saturday.
At the end of the day, the American Legion Post 55 baseball program wants to thank everyone who joined us for taking the time out of their day to have some fun and support the program. There were a lot of familiar faces, it was a long overdue reunion. We also would like to thank Alan Dickson and Chad Carle for volunteering their time to umpire for us, and Melissa Bateman and her volunteers for cooking and running concessions.
The Alumni are very appreciative of all the fans, both current fans and alumni fans, who came out to support the game. The event raised nearly $1,000 to help support baseball in Boundary County.
Complete Alumni Roster: Beau Winey, Ben Greenslitt, Birch Rose, Casey Johnson, Clint Arthur, Collin Gause, Derrick Barnhardt, Garret Skeen, Jake Johnson, Jed Bateman, Jon Winey, Justin Anderson, Kevin Dinning, Matt Clark, Mike Schulte, Steven Schulte, Todd Bateman, Willie Maas.