Well, let me tell ya ’bout this Craig Stammen Classic thing. It’s a big deal, ya know? Kids playin’ baseball, just like the big leaguers, only smaller.
They got all sorts of ages, like little tikes, 8 years old, all the way up to 14. Heard they even added a 13U group this year. That’s a lot of young’uns runnin’ around! They say they can’t have too many teams, though. Somethin’ ’bout keepin’ it to eight teams for the 8 to 12 year olds. Makes sense, I guess, too many cooks spoil the broth, as they say.
This fella, Craig Stammen, he played in the big leagues for a long, long time. Thirteen years, they tell me! Now he’s back home, watchin’ these kids play. Must be somethin’ special, seein’ all these young fellas playin’ their hearts out.
They been doin’ this for a while now, more than ten years! Imagine that! It ain’t just some small thing neither. It’s called a classic for a reason I reckon. They get tickets and everything. Real organized, these folks are. Even had tickets for last year, 2023, and they already sellin’ ’em for 2024. Gotta get ’em before May 8th, though, or you’ll miss out!
- They got different age groups: 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U.
- Only eight teams allowed for the younger kids (8-12U).
- Craig Stammen, a former big leaguer, comes back home for this.
One time, this kid, Emmett Wermert, from Coldwater, he played real good in the 11U. Made ol’ Craig Stammen proud, they said. Seems like these kids really get into it, ya know? All excited and competitive. That’s good, keeps ’em outta trouble, I always say.
Weather ain’t always been the best, though. One year, they had this big storm, rain and wind, just terrible! But they still played, tough little fellas. That’s dedication for ya. Reminds me of when we used to… well, never mind that. These kids, they love their baseball, just like Craig Stammen did when he was their age, I bet.
This Craig Stammen Classic, it’s more than just a game, ya see? It brings the whole community together. Families comin’ out, cheerin’ on their kids. It’s a good thing, a real good thing. And it gives these kids somethin’ to aim for, somethin’ to work hard for. Maybe one of ’em will even make it to the big leagues someday, just like Craig Stammen. Wouldn’t that be somethin’?
It ain’t easy, though. Takes a lot of practice, a lot of sweat, and a whole lotta heart. But these kids, they got that heart, I can see it. They runnin’ around, throwin’ the ball, hittin’ it with all their might. Reminds me of… well, it just reminds me of good times. And that’s what this Craig Stammen Classic is all about, good times and good baseball.
And you know what? That Treon kid, and that Drew Langenkamp from St. Henry’s, they played too. Had a connection to Stammen somehow. Small world, ain’t it?
So, if you ever get a chance, go check it out. It’s a sight to see, all these kids playin’ their hearts out. And it’s all thanks to Craig Stammen, comin’ back home and givin’ back to his community. That’s what it’s all about, folks, givin’ back and supportin’ the young’uns. They’re our future, ya know?
Tags: Craig Stammen Classic, Baseball, Youth Sports, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, Community Event, Tickets, Emmett Wermert, Treon, Drew Langenkamp
