Letters

Dear Editor,It might look like I am bragging about my granddaughter, Clara Heislen, and I am proud of her; and, I have also always been proud of my father, Frank Rice’s baseball career. But beyond being proud of any individuals, I am trying once again to say something that helps our community and the young people who are growing up in Fairbury. I want to take this public opportunity to encourage our youth to play on sports teams here in Fairbury. If those of us who live and work here don’t support Fairbury, who will? We need to pull together and work with each other to make things good and successful.When my father was a boy in the 30’s there were no organized sports for kids. The grown-ups all played ball and as soon as they found out there was this kid who could throw and hit a ball they put him on their team. He played with the men’s teams and they played a lot of games! Sure, he had some natural talent and a love of the sport but he didn’t run off to some other town to play. Fairbury baseball got him a pro career. The same was true for Clara. She showed natural talent, loved softball, her parents knew the game and could help her and she lived in a different time where there were more opportunities for children to develop their skills. She played school ball, club ball and had a hitting coach in her home town. But every summer she came to stay with us and played Fairbury softball and it was more than good enough for her.The best way to learn to do anything and to do it well is to practice, play the game. The time it takes to commute to another town is time that could be spent practicing or playing the game. A person with a strong desire to play competitive sports should take advantage of every opportunity possible like having a pitching or hitting coach, going to camps, playing club ball in the off season. But during the summer when Fairbury is trying to mount a summer softball program everyone should play for Fairbury and the teams should only have 10 or 11 players. No one wants to sit the bench in summer ball. Why can’t we make this happen? One answer is that an individual who is on the Fairbury Softball Board just posted tryout dates for Lincoln’s 2024 softball program. Why are we encouraging our players to play in Lincoln? I have heard parents say, “Well, the coach won’t play my kid so we needed to go somewhere else.”Can’t we figure out a line of communication or a method of team selection so that everyone gets to play most of the time? I assume coaches might be hard to get but maybe something creative could be worked out. And, one of the most important qualities of a good coach is to have an open, caring mind and heart. This is a community activity, a game. Not a life-altering experience! Good things will happen if we work together!We have amazing talent right here in Fairbury. We are a safe, clean community that supports our youth and their programs. We have beautiful facilities for ballgames and family fun. Let’s make 2024 the year of the best Fairbury Summer Softball Program ever. Next summer, let’s find a way to stay home and play softball and cherish the people who are committed to working to make this happen. And, as always, I offer my help and support in any way that I can be a benefit for the children and families of Fairbury. We are so blessed.Sincerely,/s/ Barbara BedlanFairburyFor more info follow this link:https://cspbears.com/news/2023/6/7/softball-heislen-named-academic-all-america-third-team.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2OGpF2LmEpGbRAiFfVKwZud4AEy3KxGAqorRzVr-UgWG3NxyVZttpL7kI

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