Baseball Life is the Good Life at the Sandlot
Deidra Bowling-Meade
The Ashland Beacon
"Baseball was life, and I was good at it. You could say baseball was my whole world…Every day, for the rest of that summer, baseball was like a never-ending dream, and the Sandlot was my own little field of dreams." –Scotty Smalls, The Sandlot
Do you remember watching the movie, The Sandlot? It’s a touching movie portraying friendship and baseball as essential elements that contribute to personal growth, resilience, and the formation of cherished bonds that can last a lifetime. The film showcases how the children face setbacks but keep pushing forward, never giving up on their passion for the game or their friendships.
Two local supporters for Catlettsburg Little League, Charlie Nolen and Curt Vaughn, are reviving the nostalgia the sandlot still brings to kids by hosting Sandlot Tuesdays. Nolen stated, “All players ages 8-12 from any area or organization are welcome to play. We encourage any other coaches or parents who would like to volunteer to please join us in making this a great program for the kids.”
Both Nolen and Vaughn have had a passion for baseball since playing for Greenup County High School in their early years and now want local youth to have that same love for the game.
Nolen shared, “The idea for Sandlot came about from talking to parents and other area coaches who were all saying the same thing. The kids just aren't playing ball at home like we used to. Once they go home, the gear goes up, and it's on to other things. We saw this as an opportunity to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and encourage the kids to come out and play some informal lightly structured baseball with the hopes of improving their skills and creating a love for the game of baseball. Sandlot is a chance for kids to play supervised with light instruction baseball…kind of like we played growing up with our neighborhood friends. It helps the kids get reps and extra experience without the pressure of being overly coached. It allows them to work on fielding, batting and getting a grasp on the fundamentals of the game without a hyper competitive atmosphere. It's for the kids– it's for fun- and it's for the love of the game.”
Vaughn remarked, “Sandlot Tuesday is just a great time for the kids and the parents. We've had so many parents tell us ‘this is just like backyard baseball we played growing up.’ That's really what we were looking to recreate–a fun, relaxed environment where kids can come and play some baseball for fun. It gets the kids out of the house and onto the field, and also allows them to get some batting and fielding reps in. The bonus is it’s just as much for fun the adults. We have a lot of parents who enjoy getting back out on the field with their children or grandchildren and having a great time playing baseball. Really makes it special for us.”
Vaughn’s 10 year old son, Newo, participates in Sandlot Tuesday and stated, “I really like hitting off the pitching machine, running bases and scoring points. I like making plays, getting outs and infield and outfield practice at the beginning of sand lot before we pick teams and start the game.”
Parent Joe Blair loves coming to Sandlot Tuesday with two of his boys. Blair commented, “Sandlot Tuesday has become a great way to extend the season for all the boys and girls. They are getting extra time on the field to be able to improve and work on skills they will take with them to the next level. What I love the most, we are getting kids from other leagues, such as Ashland LL, Boyd LL, and other surrounding leagues coming together as a community generationally. It’s just plain fun!”
Graeme Blair who is 10 years old declared, “Sandlots Tuesday is a lot of fun, I’m getting to play more ball and spend more time with my friends.”
Six-year-old Obi Blair shared, “I like Sandlot Tuesday because I get to play with the older kids, and they are teaching me to play baseball better.”
Sandlot Tuesday is extra special because it occurs in Catlettsburg, KY where the Catlettsburg Little League plays baseball. Nolen discussed the importance of Catlettsburg and why people should want to bring their kids out to play,
“Catlettsburg is just a great place to call home for baseball. It's the oldest little league in the state. It's a great atmosphere. The kids get equal playing time, the fields are great, and it’s an all hands on deck operation. The president of the league, the coaches and volunteers maintain the fields. We have great lines of communication with parents, local sponsors and it's affordable. If your child is just getting started, it's a great place to learn. Coaches and volunteers make accommodations to make sure all players are included and have the opportunity to learn and develop their skills. If your child is experienced, we have competitive games within our own league and inter league with other area little leagues. These kids will get a lot of on field time with the all-star teams coming back and more games and scheduled practices.”
Vaughn also holds Catlettsburg in high regard, “I personally love the atmosphere at Catlettsburg Little League. It just feels like home. I grew up playing in a little league program, and it was always so much fun. I think what I like the best about it is that sure, winning is important, but the kids developing their skills, getting that love for the game, being able to make mistakes and learn from them is the most important part. We have great parents, great kids and it's just an awesome place to call home for baseball.”
Blair agreed, “We love Catlettsburg Little League! My sons were able to play with other leagues but chose to be at Catlettsburg. The league is all about community, teaching, and giving everyone the opportunity to play the game of baseball. Catlettsburg is the oldest charter in Kentucky, bringing a tradition like nothing else in Boyd County.”
In order to help raise funds to support Catlettsburg Little League and support the children who participate in Sandlot Tuesdays, Nolen and Vaughn are sponsoring an Old Timers Game on Thursday, July 27 from 6-8 p.m. Team Charlie will face Team Curt as they showcase their old baseball skills and play using wooden bats. You can still sign up to play through July 21.
Vaughn shared, “I'm really excited for the Old Timers Game. It's a gonna be a blast. The response from the parents getting to play sandlot and the fun they were having really helped inspire this idea. It's a chance to relive the glory days and get out on a ballfield and blow off some steam, have some fun and raise some money for a great cause. Hopefully, this will be the first of many opportunities aimed at getting adults back on the ballfield for some fun and competition.”
Baseball teaches children important life lessons, such as perseverance, sportsmanship, and the ability to learn from mistakes. Moreover, baseball serves as a symbol of unity and teamwork.
The Sandlot holds a special place in the players’ hearts. It's not just a regular baseball field; it's a place where they come together, have fun, and make lasting memories. The Sandlot represents a sanctuary for their love of the game, where they can escape their worries and enjoy the simple pleasures of playing baseball with their friends. It's a place where they experience joy, laughter, and the bonds of true friendship. You can be a part of this great baseball life!
Join online at Catlettsburg Little League. Like and follow the page Facebook page to stay up to date with the league. You'll find Sandlot information, as well as information about registration, volunteer opportunities and other exciting programs and events.
Two local supporters for Catlettsburg Little League, Charlie Nolen and Curt Vaughn, are reviving the nostalgia the sandlot still brings to kids by hosting Sandlot Tuesdays. Nolen stated, “All players ages 8-12 from any area or organization are welcome to play. We encourage any other coaches or parents who would like to volunteer to please join us in making this a great program for the kids.”
Both Nolen and Vaughn have had a passion for baseball since playing for Greenup County High School in their early years and now want kids to have that same love for the game.
Nolen shared:
“The idea for Sandlot came about from talking to parents and other area coaches who were all saying the same thing. The kids just aren't playing ball at home like we used to. Once they go home, the gear goes up, and it's on to other things. We saw this as an opportunity to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and encourage the kids to come out and play some informal lightly structured baseball with the hopes of improving their skills and creating a love for the game of baseball. Sandlot is a chance for kids to play supervised with light instruction baseball…kind of like we played growing up with our neighborhood friends. It helps the kids get reps and extra experience without the pressure of being overly coached. It allows them to work on fielding, batting and getting a grasp on the fundamentals of the game without a hyper competitive atmosphere. It's for the kids– it's for fun- and it's for the love of the game.”
Vaughn remarked, “Sandlot Tuesday is just a great time for the kids and the parents. We've had so many parents tell us ‘this is just like backyard baseball we played growing up.’ That's really what we were looking to recreate–a fun, relaxed environment where kids can come and play some baseball for fun. It gets the kids out of the house and onto the field, and also allows them to get some batting and fielding reps in. The bonus is it’s just as much for fun the adults. We have a lot of parents who enjoy getting back out on the field with their children or grandchildren and having a great time playing baseball. Really makes it special for us.”
Vaughn’s 10 year old son, Newo, participates in Sandlot Tuesday and stated, “I really like hitting off the pitching machine, running bases and scoring points. I like making plays, getting outs and infield and outfield practice at the beginning of sand lot before we pick teams and start the game.”
Parent Joe Blair loves coming to Sandlot Tuesday with two of his boys. Blair commented, “Sandlot Tuesday has become a great way to extend the season for all the boys and girls. They are getting extra time on the field to be able to improve and work on skills they will take with them to the next level. What I love the most, we are getting kids from other leagues, such as Ashland LL, Boyd LL, and other surrounding leagues coming together as a community generationally. It’s just plain fun!”
Graeme Blair who is 10 years old declared, “Sandlots Tuesday is a lot of fun, I’m getting to play more ball and spend more time with my friends.”
Six year old Obi Blair shared, “I like Sandlot Tuesday because I get to play with the older kids, and they are teaching me to play baseball better.”
Sandlot Tuesday is extra special because it occurs in Catlettsburg, KY where the Catlettsburg Little League plays baseball. Nolen discussed the importance of Catlettsburg and why people should want to bring their kids out to play,
“Catlettsburg is just a great place to call home for baseball. It's the oldest little league in the state. It's a great atmosphere. The kids get equal playing time, the fields are great, and it’s an all hands on deck operation. The president of the league, the coaches and volunteers maintain the fields. We have great lines of communication with parents, local sponsors and it's affordable. If your child is just getting started, it's a great place to learn. Coaches and volunteers make accommodations to make sure all players are included and have the opportunity to learn and develop their skills. If your child is experienced, we have competitive games within our own league and inter league with other area little leagues. These kids will get a lot of on field time with the all-star teams coming back and more games and scheduled practices.”
Vaughn also holds Catlettsburg in high regard,
“I personally love the atmosphere at Catlettsburg Little League. It just feels like home. I grew up playing in a little league program, and it was always so much fun. I think what I like the best about it is that sure, winning is important, but the kids developing their skills, getting that love for the game, being able to make mistakes and learn from them is the most important part. We have great parents, great kids and it's just an awesome place to call home for baseball.”
Blair agreed, “We love Catlettsburg Little League! My sons were able to play with other leagues but chose to be at Catlettsburg. The league is all about community, teaching, and giving everyone the opportunity to play the game of baseball. Catlettsburg is the oldest charter in Kentucky, bringing a tradition like nothing else in Boyd County.”
In order to help raise funds to support Catlettsburg Little League and support the children who participate in Sandlot Tuesdays, Nolen and Vaughn are sponsoring an Old Timers Game on Thursday, July 27th from 6-8 p.m. Team Charlie will face Team Curt as they showcase their old baseball skills and play using wooden bats. You can still sign up to play through July 21st.
Vaughn shared, “I'm really excited for the Old Timers Game. It's a gonna be a blast. The response from the parents getting to play sandlot and the fun they were having really helped inspire this idea. It's a chance to relive the glory days and get out on a ballfield and blow off some steam, have some fun and raise some money for a great cause. Hopefully, this will be the first of many opportunities aimed at getting adults back on the ballfield for some fun and competition.”
Baseball teaches children important life lessons, such as perseverance, sportsmanship, and the ability to learn from mistakes. Moreover, baseball serves as a symbol of unity and teamwork.
The Sandlot holds a special place in the players’ hearts. It's not just a regular baseball field; it's a place where they come together, have fun, and make lasting memories. The Sandlot represents a sanctuary for their love of the game, where they can escape their worries and enjoy the simple pleasures of playing baseball with their friends. It's a place where they experience joy, laughter, and the bonds of true friendship. You can be a part of this great baseball life!
Join online at Catlettsburg Little League. Like and follow the page Facebook page to stay up to date with the league. You'll find Sandlot information, as well as information about registration, volunteer opportunities and other exciting programs and events.
