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By STAN JONES Press Sports Editor Somme 300 Carthage area youngsters, late next month will begin participation in the Carthage youth baseball program. This group of youngsters will include girls in the Girls Softball leagues, and boys in Farm League, Little League and Babe Ruth League. Managers and coaches have been working feverishly the past two weeks selecting members for this year's teams and working their prospects out as much as the weather will allow to prepare for the summer schedule. For every youngster out there on the diamond, there will be two adults in the stands or in the snack bar. In the past, the grandstands at youth baseball parks have been filled with parents screaming, cursing and pressuring, not only the umpires and managers who have donated their own time to the program, but to their own kids as well. Some would think these parents are general managers at a Major League baseball game trying to get their players to earn their high salaries. Dollar bills ride on the outcome of Major League baseball teams. Quality young men and women ride on the outcome of performances and attitudes at youth baseball games. And, despite their parents and the way they act in the stands, the youngsters generally give their all — win or lose. Still, many a youngster has quit or has developed a lack of interest and desire due to the performance of adults in the grandstands. Youth baseball emphasizes teamwork and sportsmanship. But how can a youngster strive to be a good sports-minded person if his father is representing just the opposite in the stands? How can he learn teamwork when he is too busy trying to live up to far-reaching goals set forth by his parents or when he is chewed out for making an error or striking out? The teams have been formed and practice has begun. Now it's time for the parents and other fans to take a good look in the mirror and say, “I'm proud that my son or daughter made a team and I will do my best to not be a hinderance to his or her growth.”’ Southern Baseball In Carthage? Ed Witch, head baseball coach at Missouri Southern State College dropped in Monday morning at The Press office to visit this writer. After delivering his congratulations and condolences concerning the recent arrival of my twin daughters, he wanted to know the procedure to obtain Municipal Park Stadium for ball games. It seems Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin was being used this afternoon and he had two key District 16 games scheduled today with Evangel College, Springfield. Well, the park was not acquired and the team was to play tonight in Joplin. When word leaked out that Southern may play here tonight, several Carthaginians seemed quite interested. This I feel, is more than reason enough to schedule some games here in the future. Being the baseball town that it is, I feel Southern would have good representation at baseball games here. Ed explained Monday morning the Carthage field ap peared to be in good shape. I can guarantee that it is in much better condition than Joe Becker Stadium as the City of Joplin has let it deteriorate to its worst ever. Former Joplin Miners or Cardinals players who had many a memorable moment there would be quite shocked if they revisited the Joplin Stadium at its present state of neglect.
Newspaper Details
Carthage Press
Carthage, Missouri, US
Tue, Apr 24, 1973
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Jennifer V.
USA 29 Aug 2026
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