Players are lined up along basepaths standing at attention as the National Anthem is played, while fans in the bleachers take off their caps and place them over their hearts.

"Play ball," shouts the umpire after the anthem is over. Moments later, the sound from the crack of a bat rings across the Elmwood Township ball diamonds.

Waiting for the pitch

Just as baseball is a staple of Independence Day across America, the game is representative of tradition and old-fashioned American values at ball diamonds across Leelanau County. More than 500 children are playing ball this summer through the Leelanau County Youth League (LCYL) and the Traverse City Little League program.

“I grew up playing baseball in Cedar. Someone was here for me when it was my turn to play, and now I’m here for the kids now that it’s their turn to play,” said Debbie Bunek, who coordinates the Cedar teams in the LCYL. Similar roles are played by Candy Crick in Suttons Bay, Sandy Scarbrough in Maple City, Diane Noonan in Empire and Kevin Peabody in Leland.

This year’s LCYL will culminate with championship games in Suttons Bay on Saturday, July 28. Titles will be decided in the Pee Wee, Colt and Pony leagues for boys, as well as the Junior Girls and Middle Girls.

Angie and Dan Mikowski of Solon Township are among many Leelanau County parents who volunteer their time to help run ball teams. The Mikowskis coach the Cedar team in the Junior Girls league, which is for players between the ages of seven and nine. Their daughter Keaton, 9, is a team member.

“It’s a passion of ours since we both played ball through high school,” said Mikowski. “We’re glad Keaton shares the same enthusiasm of the game. To us, baseball and patriotism go hand in hand. America is baseball.”

Waiting for their turn

Watching the games, particularly the youngest players, is both comical and rewarding as children slowly learn where to run or what base to throw the ball to. The tiniest players are dwarfed by the tees from which they hit the ball, and the outfielders don’t always pay attention to the game.

Moms, meanwhile, chat in the stands about their jobs, husbands and families, and look up regularly to cheer a good play or to encourage a child.

Though the LCYL has long been a staple in Leelanau County, the Traverse City Little League is just starting to make inroads in the southern part of the county. Parents and coaches credit Don Beem of Elmwood Township for bringing new life to the league, which has resulted in more use of the Elmwood Township ball diamonds than residents can remember in years.

“Don has organized and coordinated the games, sought out coaches and volunteers, and added some great touches,” said Paul Soma of Elmwood Township, who has two sons playing Little League. “We play the National Anthem before every game, we had a Memorial Day ceremony, we’re playing Take Me Out to the Ballgame – it’s great for the kids to share in all this.”

Beem is president of the Little League west division, and it was his involvement in baseball through his son, Matt, that led to his role.

“When Matt was playing Little League in 2003, I think he was the only student in all of Norris Elementary playing,” Beem said. “Now, in the Norris district, we probably have 40 kids playing.”

Beem said there are about 40 teams and 500 boys and girls playing Little League, compared to about 240 players three years ago. He said a township league once played in Elmwood before disbanding.

Little League plays begins for players ages 5 and 6 at the T-Ball level. Other leagues and age limits include Coach-Pitch (7-8), Super Minors (9-10), Majors (11-12), and Junior (13-14). Older players compete in American Legion ball and high school summer programs.

Kelly Bunek pitches

Beem credits Elmwood Township maintenance crews for doing “an excellent job” at keeping the fields in good shape through the increase in participation.

He credits the general health of baseball for the surge in local popularity.
“It’s a sport that has a great tradition, you have to use every part of your body to play, any kid at any time can be a hero with a key hit or a great play, and the coaches in our league pass on their passion of the game to the kids,” Beem said. “It’s a great feeling to see three fields going at Elmwood with kids everywhere, hardly any parking because so many parents and grandparents are coming to the games, and the team spirit that the kids are learning.”

During one Elmwood Coach-Pitch game in June, Dawn Laracey of Solon Township was keeping the scorer’s book for the Raptors while her husband, Mark Laracey, and co-coach Chris Pfeiffer of Maple City were running pre-game drills. The Laraceys also have two sons on the team,
“We’re hoping to teach them the values that come with baseball,” said Dawn. “Like sportsmanship, or that it’s OK to strike out.”

Lisa Zeits, whose daughter Katie, 7, is the only girl on the Raptors team, said playing ball was a natural sport for her daughter to take up.

“My uncle (Gary Brzezinski) was a Pony League coach for the Cedar team for many years, and I remember growing up watching Independent League games in Leelanau County, usually on Sunday afternoons,” Zeits said. “Now Katie’s playing and she’s learning things like the fundamentals and giving 100 percent.”

Zeits said being the only girl on the team is no problem.

High five

“She hasn’t let that bother her. Her sisters played ball, too, so it’s a natural for her to play as well,” Zeits said.

Three of the Elmwood teams planned a cookout celebration last Saturday to cap the completion of the regular season.

At the end of a T-ball game played in Elmwood last month, a young girl who had been playing on a swingset ran to her father after seeing the fans starting to disburse.

“Who won, daddy?” she asked.

“Everybody won, dear,” he responded, and it seemed to sum up the feelings of all parents who have children playing ball in the county.