Good morning!
This
year would have marked our 9th Annual Dalton Hinkle Memorial
Tournament, started by our very own Gregg Winter in 2012 to honor and
remember Dalton Hinkle. This week I have been communicating with my
friends on the board, buddies, coaches and even a few former players
about how sad we all are that we cannot have our tournament that means
so much more than baseball to us.
This
morning I woke up at 5:00 AM as I would normally have done on the
Saturday of our tournament ready to put baseballs in all the field
boxes, get bagels for the volunteers, set up our Information Tent...well
you get my point. That was not to be today. I did go out this morning,
and drove past Old Farm. There was dew on the ground and a big bright
sun in the sky, but no bases, no pitchers mound and worse of all no
players, coaches, umps, volunteers, or fans at the fields.
With
all that said, while I was driving around this morning with my wife
Carrie, mask and all, I decided I would not let this pandemic ruin what
is always my favorite weekend of the year. At which time I felt it was
more important than ever that I do what I have done for the last seven
years prior, and send an email about what this tournament is all about.
For
those that do not know, Dalton Hinkle was a five year old boy who lost
his life a little over nine years ago. Dalton's Mom and Dad, George and
Dena, have both volunteered for the BGRA as well as other community
events, and still do to this day. Dalton was the youngest of five, all
boys. He was around Jay Jones all the time during the baseball season
with a smile that would make you think...What a very cute kid. What's he
up to? He was young, innocent and playfully mischievous, and he loved
baseball.
At
this point I would normally have said something personal and ask
everyone to play the game like Dalton would have, with childlike
innocence, for fun, and with no cares in the world. Since we won't be
playing baseball this weekend, however, I ask you all to still spend
this weekend in Dalton's honor, having fun, enjoying each other, and
maybe even getting into a little playful mischief.
Please
take care of yourselves, your families and friends. We will all get to
play and watch baseball again, and even have our tournament that we
love so much.
See you all on a baseball field sometime soon!!
Russ Goldstein