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Parent inspires baseball players to set high standards
Mar 27, 2003 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
It isn’t often that the varsity baseball team begins its season with a pep talk from a college baseball player, but this year’s team did. Mike Wysocki, parent of Darlington alumni Stephanie ’88 and Jennifer ’90 and current student Alex, junior, related his experiences as a former baseball player for the University of Georgia to the game of life. “Baseball, like life, asks you to find out how hard you’re willing to challenge yourself and how high you’re going to set your standards,” Wysocki told team members at their pre-season banquet dinner on March 11.
“You learn valuable lessons playing baseball,” Wysocki said. “You learn responsibility to others and leadership by example. You learn that teamwork wins, to err is human, and tomorrow’s a new day. You learn to work on your weaknesses but you learn that life can be fun, too.”
He urged the players to remember that they owe their parents for opportunities and support, coaches for teaching a great game, friends for backing them up on each play and moving them around the bases, teachers for their guidance, and strangers for their freedom. “And you owe the next generation your time and talents on and off the field,” Wysocki added.
Wysocki was the first baseball scholarship player in the state of Georgia and was 10-0 as a freshman. He went on to play five years in the San Franciso Giants organization and played with baseball greats Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.
Gus Bell, baseball coach, is hoping for an excellent season. “I am looking for some senior to take a leadership role and be a positive role model for the younger players. You have to earn this by having the players respect you for what you say, your work ethic, and your character,” Bell said.
“You learn valuable lessons playing baseball,” Wysocki said. “You learn responsibility to others and leadership by example. You learn that teamwork wins, to err is human, and tomorrow’s a new day. You learn to work on your weaknesses but you learn that life can be fun, too.”
He urged the players to remember that they owe their parents for opportunities and support, coaches for teaching a great game, friends for backing them up on each play and moving them around the bases, teachers for their guidance, and strangers for their freedom. “And you owe the next generation your time and talents on and off the field,” Wysocki added.
Wysocki was the first baseball scholarship player in the state of Georgia and was 10-0 as a freshman. He went on to play five years in the San Franciso Giants organization and played with baseball greats Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.
Gus Bell, baseball coach, is hoping for an excellent season. “I am looking for some senior to take a leadership role and be a positive role model for the younger players. You have to earn this by having the players respect you for what you say, your work ethic, and your character,” Bell said.
