Following is a heartwarming letter recently sent to parents and boosters of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama, regarding events that followed a school baseball game:
Subject: A Letter from the Athletic Director
Dear Parents & Baseball Booster Club,
I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our baseball program. We couldn't run a first class program without your help. Many hours of hard work and sacrifice are necessary to running a successful booster club that supports 3 baseball teams. In a world where athletics seems to get negative attention at times, it is heartwarming when one gets a glimpse of the real meaning of high school athletics. I would like to share with you a story that should reassure you that the sacrifices that you are making to your sons baseball program is worth it.
On Friday night I watched our baseball team beat Williamson 25-1. One would be compelled to think that we really ran the score up, however, that was not the case at all. Our coaching staff constantly held runners up when they could've easily made it to the next base, every player on the bench played, and we did everything we could to keep the score down.
After the game was over and the teams shook hands, I noticed one of our players and a Williamson player were talking in the middle of the field for what I thought was an extended period of time. After their conversation, the Williamson player starting walking towards our dug out. I decided to walk to our dug out to see what was going on. To be honest, I was thinking that the player was upset about the score and that we were getting ready to have an incident.
What I witnessed next, was perhaps one of the best displays of sportsmanship that I have seen in quite some time. Once I reached the dug out, the Williamson player had about six bats under his arm and one of our players was carrying a set of catchers equipment for him. This young man from Williamson said "God Bless Yall" to our players and left to join his team with the bats and catchers gear.
I asked the nearest player what was going on and he relayed the following story:
Will Franklin was catching and noticed that the bats that Williamson was using were very thin and rattled when they hit the ball. In other words they were not very good at all. It was between innings that Will and some other seniors approached Coach Lawley and asked if we could give them some of our equipment. Coach Lawley didn't hesitate and said absolutely. I later found out that Williamson had their equipment stolen during the summer and they were "doing the best they could with what they had". They didn't have a spare set of catching equipment so they couldn't even warm up a new pitcher in the bull pen during the game. So we gave them an extra set of ours with the bats.
This whole exchange took place without ceremony and in a manner that upheld the dignity and pride of the opposing team. Outside of our baseball team who new what was going on, I am sure I was only one of a few people who had the blessing of witnessing this act.
I would like to commend Coach Lawley, his staff and his players for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship. This is what we hope to teach at McGill-Toolen in the classroom and in our extracurricular activities. The easy and pain free thing for Will Franklin to do would have been to simply return to the dug out inning after inning without saying a word. After all why should he be concerned about a public schools athletic program. I am so proud that we have students who don't look for the easiest thing to do. I thank God that we have students who have the courage to do the right thing. In this case, the right thing to do was to show compassion and kindness to others.
I believe that those of us who teach and coach at McGill-Toolen should do so in a manner that is a reflection of Jesus Christ. On Friday night, I saw the face of God in a group of teenage baseball players and their coaches. That young man from Williamson left the field with more than equipment Friday night. And so did our boys.
Thank you for sending your children to McGill-Toolen and thank you for allowing our coaches to have an influence on them.
Sincerely,
Bill Griffin
Interim Athletic Director
Subject: A Letter from the Athletic Director
Dear Parents & Baseball Booster Club,
I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our baseball program. We couldn't run a first class program without your help. Many hours of hard work and sacrifice are necessary to running a successful booster club that supports 3 baseball teams. In a world where athletics seems to get negative attention at times, it is heartwarming when one gets a glimpse of the real meaning of high school athletics. I would like to share with you a story that should reassure you that the sacrifices that you are making to your sons baseball program is worth it.
On Friday night I watched our baseball team beat Williamson 25-1. One would be compelled to think that we really ran the score up, however, that was not the case at all. Our coaching staff constantly held runners up when they could've easily made it to the next base, every player on the bench played, and we did everything we could to keep the score down.
After the game was over and the teams shook hands, I noticed one of our players and a Williamson player were talking in the middle of the field for what I thought was an extended period of time. After their conversation, the Williamson player starting walking towards our dug out. I decided to walk to our dug out to see what was going on. To be honest, I was thinking that the player was upset about the score and that we were getting ready to have an incident.
What I witnessed next, was perhaps one of the best displays of sportsmanship that I have seen in quite some time. Once I reached the dug out, the Williamson player had about six bats under his arm and one of our players was carrying a set of catchers equipment for him. This young man from Williamson said "God Bless Yall" to our players and left to join his team with the bats and catchers gear.
I asked the nearest player what was going on and he relayed the following story:
Will Franklin was catching and noticed that the bats that Williamson was using were very thin and rattled when they hit the ball. In other words they were not very good at all. It was between innings that Will and some other seniors approached Coach Lawley and asked if we could give them some of our equipment. Coach Lawley didn't hesitate and said absolutely. I later found out that Williamson had their equipment stolen during the summer and they were "doing the best they could with what they had". They didn't have a spare set of catching equipment so they couldn't even warm up a new pitcher in the bull pen during the game. So we gave them an extra set of ours with the bats.
This whole exchange took place without ceremony and in a manner that upheld the dignity and pride of the opposing team. Outside of our baseball team who new what was going on, I am sure I was only one of a few people who had the blessing of witnessing this act.
I would like to commend Coach Lawley, his staff and his players for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship. This is what we hope to teach at McGill-Toolen in the classroom and in our extracurricular activities. The easy and pain free thing for Will Franklin to do would have been to simply return to the dug out inning after inning without saying a word. After all why should he be concerned about a public schools athletic program. I am so proud that we have students who don't look for the easiest thing to do. I thank God that we have students who have the courage to do the right thing. In this case, the right thing to do was to show compassion and kindness to others.
I believe that those of us who teach and coach at McGill-Toolen should do so in a manner that is a reflection of Jesus Christ. On Friday night, I saw the face of God in a group of teenage baseball players and their coaches. That young man from Williamson left the field with more than equipment Friday night. And so did our boys.
Thank you for sending your children to McGill-Toolen and thank you for allowing our coaches to have an influence on them.
Sincerely,
Bill Griffin
Interim Athletic Director
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