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Two blessed young men…Warner Watkins and Crosby Mullins…lived the dream last week. The boys were selected to play in Cooperstown, New York at one of the top camps in the USA.
I asked Cindy (mother of Warner) if I could share her recap of the week. The pictures are great…and I think everyone had a fun and successful trip. Congratulations to “our” boys and their team.
“Last Friday(July 1st), our SOX Baseball family arrived at the Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, NY to drop off our team and coaches to live, eat, and sleep there for the week. Though we were excited for the week to come, we never could have imagined the week that was awaiting us.
As our boys were getting moved into their “barrack”, we were personally welcomed by Coach Lou Prescutti, the “big guy” at this place. You see, at the magnificent Opening Ceremony, Coach Lou told of his very humble upbringing and how decades ago, he had a dream to create a baseball park and experience for young players to replicate the Majors. Twenty years ago, his dream became a reality and Cooperstown Dreams Park was born. Since then, every summer, young baseball players from across the United States and Canada come here to compete in a nostalgic setting and earn their place in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and become a Little Major. Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are two very famous alumni of this experience. For us this week, every player, coach, umpire, and family member “Lived the Dream” that Coach Lou so meticulously designed for an unforgettable and awesome experience.
We experienced some thrilling baseball games, Grand Slams, home runs, exciting wins, our boys creating deeper bonds, meeting new friends from across the country (especially our friends from Hawaii), pin trading unlike any I’ve ever seen, visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field! We had the best 4th of July ever as Warner hit his first Grand Slam that day!
We shared joy, laughter, and tears for our favorite little guy, John Whit Snopek. JW hit his very first HR this week, his brother watching from home created a hilarious video of the event, and sadly, JW will not be back with our team next season. Though he is a year younger than all of our other guys, he has always played “up” on our team and is irreplaceable! We love you, JW, and will miss you terribly!
Our SOX team went 7-1 this week finishing 9th out of 104 teams and definitely had a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I am proud of this team, not only for their athletic abilities and good sportsmanship but for their good hearts as well! I am thankful for the example that our coaches provide and I am grateful to have met a fine Christian umpire this week that shared his love of God with our boys! Roy Robinson, we thank you and appreciate you!
Sadly, as our incredible week was coming to a close, we received devastating news that Coach Lou (75) passed away in his sleep Wednesday night. I appreciate his vision so many years ago as it provided my son with an experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
We’re back home and back to reality but Warner and I had the most incredible experience imaginable this week . . . one that we’ll never forget!”
Crosby’s dad, Winston Mullins, was one of the SOX Team coaches! Of course, moms Kecia and Cindy were there for support!
We are proud of our boys!