An ode to LeRoy | ‘It’s been really special’ | Baseball

LeROY — Wayne Meyer’s senior rely isn’t very excessive amongst his 2020 LeRoy baseball roster.

It’s a mere two. However there’s extra to that statistic than meets the attention.

Half of the determine is made up by Bobby Spratt, one in every of three within the Spratt household whose senior spring sports activities season is up within the air throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The opposite half is an athlete very acquainted to Wayne, who’s in his 25th season because the Panthers’ baseball coach.

His son, Colin Meyer.

“Initially, it was very robust,” Wayne stated. “As time has gone on, it’s a type of the place I’ve talked to Colin loads about it, and he’s acquired an excellent perspective by way of that is one thing all people’s coping with.

“And it’s not simply us.”

No, it isn’t. Excessive-schoolers across the state and nation are affected by the continued pandemic.

However a a lot smaller proportion of those rivals are lacking out on one final probability to be coached by a mother or father.

Wayne had that chance with elder son, Trey, in 2017.

He could not get it with Colin, particularly if the Illinois Excessive Faculty Affiliation’s present Could 1 return date for spring sports activities winds up altering.

“Going into final yr, when you would’ve stated one thing like this was going to occur, I wouldn’t imagine you,” Colin stated. “It will sound so far-fetched. But it surely’s definitely a disappointing state of affairs we’re in proper now.”

Colin was a key LeRoy basball varsity contributor for the primary time as a junior in 2019. He hit .363 with 23 RBI for the Panthers’ third regional-champion membership within the final 4 seasons.

Wayne’s groups have been extremely profitable in Colin’s profession, boasting 65 wins within the first three campaigns.

“It’s been actually particular, and I’m actually glad that I’ve been part of one thing so nice,” Colin stated. “I’m definitely grateful for that have.”

Wayne is eight victories shy of 400 for his personal tenure with the Panthers. He is also acquainted with life-changing medical occasions — at the least on a person scale — because the recipient of a 2016 kidney transplant.

“What I skilled earlier than all the time helps deliver me again to the middle by way of perspective,” Wayne stated. “After I was actually sick, when you would’ve stated, ‘Would you commerce your baseball season to get via this and really feel higher once more?’ I’d’ve executed it in a heartbeat.

“So whereas that is disappointing in a broader view of issues, there’s extra vital issues.”

Equivalent to household.

Wayne has coached Colin since sixth grade. Colin stated he’s by no means had hassle separating the labels “Dad” and “Coach” when the 2 occupy a diamond collectively.

“It definitely tightened our bond just a little bit,” Colin stated. “It form of grew us nearer. I feel final yr (successful a regional title) was probably the most memorable second, at the least definitely for me, (in) my baseball profession. It actually reveals a mirrored image of what he can do as a coach.”

Wayne estimates he’s been related to some type of springtime sport since he was in second grade. That alone makes the pandemic-forced shutdown of LeRoy baseball a singular occasion in Wayne’s athletic profession.

Concurrently, that background permits Wayne to acknowledge his luck up thus far.

“I informed my spouse, ‘I’ve gotten to see him play greater than most any mother and father ever get to see their child,’” Wayne stated. “If that is how the taking part in a part of his profession ends — having the ability to be on back-to-back regional title groups — it’s one thing not many children get to expertise.”

Colin’s time in aggressive baseball will stop in 2020, no matter whether or not the Panthers go well with up for any video games.

He’s heading to Parkland Faculty subsequent, contemplating a significant within the English discipline.

So, sure, he and his father can recall loads of fond recollections from their time as pupil and coach. That doesn’t imply Colin wasn’t hoping to create just a few extra in his senior yr.

“It’d be actually particular (to get again on the sphere),” Colin stated. “Something, at this level, is all that I’d need. … Even only one extra time.”

Wayne, too, is conscious his final LeRoy baseball moments with Colin could have occurred in March preseason exercises.

“I’ve been a realist with it,” Wayne stated. “I’ve checked out it realistically of it’s a protracted shot (we’ll play) and simply brace for that risk, after which hope for the perfect at that time.”