When our son and his friends played 12 year old LL All Stars, I met a young man named Mike.
At the time he was about 30 years old; a rising star in our high tech industry.
Mike told me of his background in baseball, his love for the game, and how much he would love to be our batting practice pitcher for All Stars.
Since Mike was close friends with a former college and Milb pitcher I knew, I took him up on the offer.
At his first practice, he hit the first 3 batters!!!!
On many occasions after that, Mike would share how much he loved hanging out with our kids. He talked about how much he wanted to coach his kids, when he had a family.
Every opening day in San Francisco, Mike was a mainstay.
An annual baseball trip to 4 parks in 4 days for some Dad's and our son's and Mike soon followed.
When we got involved in building a little league field locally, Mike donated the money.
Today, Mike is 45, married and with 3 wonderful kids, ages 9,7&4.
Last night, Mike was given his last rights. A terrible brain disease called CJD is the cause.
Mike won't ever be able to share what he wanted so much...to coach his kids in little league, to play on the field he helped build, to share the lives and experiences of his children and to watch his family grow, as he got to watch our families and son's grow.
In the last several months, our son has become very, very close with Mike's kids. His oldest son, Jimmy played Fall baseball this year, for the first time. It isn't because Jimmy is the best player. It seemingly is because Jimmy found some confidence and fun in being coached and supported by our son, the one his Dad hit with his first BP pitch some 15 years ago.
If you would, please say a prayer today and tomorrow for our friend, the batting practice pitcher, Mike Homer.
Please say a prayer for his family.
Please hug your children today and forever, and treasure those moments when they say something like my good friend justbaseball posted this morning.
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