The 2014 MS Co-ed Baseball Team.
If you walk by the gym on any given afternoon this spring, you might see a sport being played that is brand new to the LFNY: baseball! Starting this spring, the school created a middle school co-ed baseball team, made up of students in seventh and eighth grade. The team plays eight games this spring and made history at the LFNY, winning their first game on April 29th against UNIS, 8-5.
Coach Christopher Haspil.
Coached by baseball aficionados Chris Haspil, Vie-Scolaire coordinator, and Genaro Annunziato, the team’s goals for this year are basic: give the students an understanding of the rules of the game and help them master the core skills of the game — throwing and fielding the ball, swinging the bat, making contact with the ball, and running the bases after they get a hit.
Baseball is the American past-time and the subject of much lore! It appears to have been created in 1791 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Abner Doubleday is credited with designing the first scheme for baseball in Cooperstown, New York, which is now home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His schemes have become the rules of the game as we know them today. The rules for baseball can at times be confusing, so for those of you who are completely new to it, here are a few basics:
Offense and Defense
A baseball game is played by two teams, who alternate between offense (at bat) and defense (play the field). There are nine players on each side. The goal is to score more runs than the opponent. To score a run, a player must run a circuit of four bases.
The Game
Baseball is a game of patience to be sure. There are nine innings in professional baseball games (unless there is a tie…), and during each inning each team bats and plays the field. Remember there is no time clock in baseball. Each team bats until they get three outs (sometimes there are four outs, but that’s for another post…). According to Baseball Reference.com, the longest game, time wise, in major league baseball history was played May 8, 1984 between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox. The game went 25 innings and lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes!
The Equipment
You all know the ubiquitous baseball cap. In the field, defense wears a leather baseball glove to catch the ball. The offense uses a baseball bat, which is made of wood in the professional ranks, and likely made of aluminum at amateur levels. Players wear long pants because they often have to slide into a base to score a run or even get a base hit.
The Field
The field is shaped like a diamond, consisting of an infield and outfield. A pitcher stands on a mound in the middle of the diamond, that is typically 60ft 6inches from home plate (45 feet in ). Each point on the diamond is a base – first, second, third and home plate. The part of the field closest to the bases is called the infield, and the grassy farther reaches is called the outfield. Batters hit the ball and try to run to base. Defense tries to prevent them from doing that. Points are scored when the batter makes it all the way home.
Defense: The Positions
Infield: There’s a pitcher, a catcher, who catches the ball if it’s not hit by a batter. The infielders are the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop (between second and third base) and the third baseman. There are three outfielders: The left fielder, center fielder and right fielder. The job of the outfielder is to catch the ball, and prevent the runner from running bases. It’s a key job!
The Food (we had to)
Ballpark food has changed over the years. When I was a kid you got a hot dog, soda and popcorn, nowadays you can get anything…even sushi!
Come out and support the students, if you can make it. They typically play during the day, late afternoon. Three games left! Click here for the schedule.
About the Author :
John Burpoe has been working in education for thirty years, and joined the Lycée team in 2012. Previously, he held the same position at Friends Seminary and Xavier High School. John received a master’s degree from Fordham University School of Education. He enjoys running during his free time.