SILOAM SPRINGS -- Summer is a time for family outings, picnics, festivals like the Decatur Barbecue, swimming and just relaxing under the sun. For a small group of Decatur youth, summer is about the American pastime, baseball.
The group of kids, mostly Decatur Middle School students, elected to give up a little of their summer to learn the game. They are coached by J.C. Dorsey and Donald Thomas, both baseball coaches at Decatur High School who wanted to teach the younger athletes, some for the very first time, to become better players.
Both coaches decided to sponsor the kids in the Siloam Springs Babe Ruth League, which plays every Tuesday and Thursday at James Butts Baseball Complex in Siloam Springs. The coaches put up the entry fees and use their own equipment so that the kids can learn and have a little fun on the way. There are only four teams signed up in the league this summer which allows Decatur players a chance to grow and learn from their previous game mistakes.
In the first game, played May 31, the Decatur team fell behind early to the Siloam Springs A team. Decatur managed only one run in the second inning before the mercy rule was called, ending the first game with Siloam Springs A taking the win.
The second contest pitted Decatur against Siloam Springs B in a nightcap. In the top of the first inning, Decatur managed to bring three runs across home before the third out ended its rally. This was the first and only time Decatur led. In the next inning, Siloam Springs B had a huge rally that eventually earned them the win.
In the Thursday afternoon contest, Decatur once again squared off against the Siloam A team. This time, the Siloam Springs A team made a series of mistakes in the opening inning, opening the way for the Decatur team to take the lead by three runs in the bottom of the first. Good fielding by the Decatur team allowed Siloam only two runs which helped Decatur hang on to its lead for one more inning.
But the bottom dropped out for Decatur as a series of missteps allowed Siloam A to catch up and run away with the contest. Siloam Springs A took the win once again.
The experiences this young band of Decatur kids had this summer are likely to carry on over the next two summers. And then it will be their turn to take over the reins of the Decatur High School baseball program, making for a more competitive team in the future.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's KJ Burke (center left) slides into home plate ahead of the throw for the first run of the second baseball game between Siloam Springs B and Decatur at James Butts Baseball Complex in Siloam Springs May 31. The young Decatur kids were part of the Siloam Springs Babe Ruth baseball League for kids 13-15.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Roldand Andrews gets to the end of his windup before launching the ball toward a batter at home plate during the Siloam Springs-Decatur Babe Ruth League baseball contest in Siloam Springs May 31. Andrews pitched two full innings before he was relieved in the top of the third inning.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Ricky Thor makes contact with the ball, sending it deep into left field for a base hit during the Siloam Springs-Decatur Babe Ruth League baseball contest at James Butts Baseball Complex in Siloam Springs May 31. Thor managed to get to third base before a teammate made the third out, ending the top of the second inning.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
As Decatur's Gavin Bourber (11) crosses the base, the Siloam Springs second baseman, trying to pick off a high throw from center field, causes a collision which kicks up a cloud of dust during the Siloam Springs A-Decatur Babe Ruth baseball game in Siloam Springs June 2. Bourber was called safe at second base.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's catcher Marlon Revolorio (center) tags a runner at home plate for an out during the Siloam Springs-Decatur Babe Ruth league baseball contest at the James Butts Baseball Complex in Siloam Springs June 2.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's Brian Thor leaps out of the way of a wild pitch during the June 2 Siloam Springs A-Decatur Babe Ruth baseball contest in Siloam Springs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's Carson Courtney connects with a pitch, sending it into center field for a base hit during the Siloam Springs A-Decatur Babe Ruth League baseball contest at James Butts Baseball Complex in Siloam Springs June 2.