REC baseball, softball season winds down
As the Marion/USD REC baseball and softball season winds down, so does the craziness that comes with the territory.
Twenty-two teams, 245 players, and countless parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are all a part of the program that provides baseball and softball to Marion youth.
From early April to the first week of July there is at least one team at the ball park every night playing a game or practicing.
"It just gets nuts," REC director Margo Yates said.
Yates is one of two people, along with Terry Edwards, who is at the fields at all times during games and practices. Even if someone needs to ask about a rule or get keys to the equipment storage shed, Yates said it's important.
"I'm adamant about that," Yates said. "We need to be accessible."
Something else at the park that is accessible every night is the concession stand. Marion residents Russ and Marci Cain started the stand four years ago, and Cindy Ragland took over this year.
Ragland, who has two sons who play for Marion REC, is there nearly every night. She and Yates do their best to find others to volunteer to help out as well.
Yates said profits from the stand have generated nearly $15,000 in park improvements. "It's the best thing that ever happened to the program," she said.
Communication
To make the entire process work, communication and patience is required of everyone.
Yates can't get frustrated with the hectic pace, and parents must understand everything has to be done by the book. Yates said the March 15 deadline, which has been in effect every year, sometimes sneaks up on parents.
"It has to be that early," Yates said.
That is because practice starts the first of April, and before that Yates has three meetings with directors of other teams from Hillsboro, Peabody, Centre, and Chase County.
Every team's schedule has to be set by then, including practices. Equipment must be ordered by March 15 as well, and sponsors have to be set so Yates can order T-shirts.
Scheduling can become tricky, like when Yates was forced to re-schedule all but two of the 10-and-under softball games in 2006.
Girl Scouts camp, vacation Bible school, and other activities contributed to the cancellations.
"I can only control so much," Yates said, "and we can only do so much."
One thing she can't control are the calls of umpires. Although not always revered, umpires are as much a part of the process as any fan, coach, or player. While they may make mistakes, make no mistake, it's not an easy job.
Tyson Heidebrecht is in his fifth year as a REC umpire.
"There is always pressure on the umpire," he said. "Especially in close games."
Although not paid as much as surrounding counties, the men and women in blue don't do it for the money.
"I do it just to be out there," Heidebrecht said. "And for the kids. I don't do it for me."
Yates said the reason other towns pay more is because their leagues have full-time directors and operate on a mill levy, allowing for more available funds.
Heidebrecht said it's either coaching, which he does as well, or umpiring to stay near the game he loves.
"I always have fun," he said.
Wrapping it up
The season ends this week, and the top two baseball teams from each division advance to district, while softball teams have league tournaments.
Both Marion teams in the 11-12-year-old and 13-15-year-old leagues will be playing in districts this week for a chance at the state tournament.
Marion has played host to state tournaments in the past, but Yates said it won't happen until a problem is fixed.
The space between the infield dirt and outfield grass, especially on "B" field, has settled over time and formed a ridge that is unsafe for players and umpires.
If that is fixed, the complex is a prime facility to host post-season tournaments.
"I get comments about [the complex] all the time," Yates said.
