Molly Parker
Daily Egyptian
They talk like the Major Leagues.
"I was behind the ball." "I didn't judge that one right."
They have fans like the Major Leagues.
Most of their moms and dads show up for every game.
They even spit and grab their crotch like the Major Leagues.
But what separates these baseball lovers from the big stars is a major league dream.
And for many of the 25 or so players - some only 15 years old - who did their thing for a New York Mets scout Tuesday, it was as close to that dream as they had ever been.
It was noon, and the invite-only day on the field was over. Mets area supervisor Quincy Boyd of Chicago, clad in New York blue, called the players over one at a time to give feedback on the day's performance.
Soft-spoken Tyler Paho, a sophomore at Herrin High School, stood against the dugout at Abe Martin Field waiting for the scout to call his number.
How long have you been playing?
"Since four."
Do you want to play for the Major Leagues?
"mmm-hmm"
Which team?
"Hope a good one."
After receiving his major-league advice, he left with fellow rising baseball star Tyler Choate, a freshman at Carmi High School.
Why do you want to play for the major leagues?
"For fun, why else?" Choate said.
Apparently, that's an obvious answer to anyone who knows anything about baseball.
Most of the men on the field Tuesday were recommended by Bobby Simpson, who works with area players at Future Swings in Marion.
He said the scout was in Carbondale looking for players with natural skill. And if they find that diamond in the rough, or in this case, someone tough on the diamond, then the scout might follow them around for a few years to see how they develop and play under pressure.
Under Tuesday's pressure, most of the players said they weren't nervous.
"I don't get nervous, just perform," said a recent Blackburn college graduate that has also auditioned for the Orioles, a Texas team and some independent teams.
It was the parents standing on the sidelines who had butterflies in their stomachs.
"We try to be as laidback as possible rather than take it super-serious," said baseball father Lee Jewett of West Frankfort. "I think if he got drafted, he would go and give it a shot."
His son will be a senior in high school. Jewett said they would probably hear something around May if he has a chance to enter the league.
Even if some of the players get drafted, they have to start at the bottom and climb the layers before they reach the big-times. At every level, the competition gets tighter and a lot of players are eliminated.
Most of these rising stars realize that.
Paho said if he doesn't make the league he'll go to college, probably the University of Florida, because "it's fun to be in Florida."
But when you're on the field, you don't think about alternatives, he said.
You just play.
Tuesday was no different, except for one thing.
It was a major-league dream.
Reporter Molly Parker can be reached at mparker@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
