By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Wednesday’s Meet the Graders Night was all about a chance to get up close and personal with Galion’s boys of summer.
Beginning at 5 p.m. members of the community were allowed into an open practice at Galion’s James D. Heddleson Field in Heise Park to meet this year’s hometown heroes from the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Prior to taking the field for practice, Graders’ team members welcomed the community into the dugout for a meet and greet.
Assistant Head Coach Taylor Baker explained that the meet and greet is great for both the kids and the players.
“I think we try to integrate the community and the Little League program, you know, work kind of hand-in-hand with them,” Baker said. “So we try to get them out here, and have our players interact with them. Because a lot of kids, when they come to these games, they look up to these kids. What am I going to do in my game? How are they hustling down the line? What do they do at the plate, on the mound hustling out to the different positions?
“So I think it is a good example for the guys to get to know the kids in the community and ask about the positions that they play, and they (the kids) look up to them in the role model type thing.”
With father Chris Harris, and uncle Bubba Harris being All-Ohioans at Colonel Crawford High School, Grace College athlete and Graders’ outfield/pitcher Xavier Harris said it felt good to return home to play ball.
“It feels really good to get the experience to come back home and play in front of fans and family and all that,” Harris said. “It is a good experience to play at a high level.”
Graders’ outfielder Evan Lee explained how the summer leagues help prepare him for the collegiate season.
“Usually just playing baseball helps me,” Lee said. “The more games I play, the more swings I get in, and the more experience I get. Every baseball game is different, and you learn something new every game.”
Lee, who is a graduate of Lexington and attends Kent State University, said that he enjoys playing with the Graders as it gives him the familiarity of being close to home.
Attending the event with his father Adam, Jackson Henry enjoyed meeting the Graders.
“I was happy to meet all of the players,” Jackson said. “My favorite players are the (Ohio State) Buckeyes ones.”
Roslyn Santel brought her son Elijah to the Meet the Graders event.
“My son, he wanted to meet them,” Roslyn said. “He is also in Cub Scouts so when the season starts, they will be doing the flag ceremony. He also wanted to have the chance to go out and mingle with the players.”
Elijah explained he was at the event to have fun.
“I am having fun out here,” Elijah said. “Hitting and catching the balls was my favorite part of the day.”
After the meet and greet was finished, the Galion Graders took to the field to practice side by side with the kids as they practiced their fielding skills with a little help from the youths.
The Galion Graders will open their season at home on Friday against the Lorain County Ironmen. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.