This is a great thread, one that ALL baseball parents should read. Heybatter, your son is the real "prospect"...no guessing, he's got what it takes to succeed...on his terms.

We, too, received the call last week. It was hard at first, but priorities change, life interests change, individuals change. Hurricane Katrina hastened things, though, with a lost freshman fall semester in New Orleans and all that would have entailed in terms of baseball. But, my wife and I really are not sorry, our son made up his mind, made his choice, and was upfront with Doc Beeman, with no hard feelings either way. I'm proud he had the courage to do what he wants to do, and look forward to some "normal" summers with him at home.

What a long, strange trip it's been...

Taratko,

Good luck to your son in all his endeavors.

As my mother alway's said "everything happens for the best". Normal summers are a good thing.

TaRatko,

I am sure that whatever Zak decides to do he will be successful. Our family wishes all of you the best. The best part of the journey is the journey and the memories it creates. Those are there forever.

JMEpop

Tar, best of luck to Zak. You're right about the courage. It takes plenty to stop doing something you love and have done for a long time to pursue a different goal.
Watching them play is fun but nothing beats the quality 1 on 1 time with the family only.

Wow. Nothing like a REAL reality check to understand what life really is...and how fragile it is.

It's wonderful that he was able to make the decision on his own terms..My son, a college freshman, hurt his ankle in September and we thought for a while that his career was over. Fortunately it is not, but it did put things in perspective.

My favorite "tag line" is "Play each game is if it were your last. One day it will be." . . . . Because you just never know.

Our best to your son and to your family...As Bob Seger sings..."turn the page."

TARatko,

Best of luck to your son in his future endeavors!

Taratko - Wishing your son all the best in his future life choices! Enjoy those new summer options!

Taratko....best wishes to your son, it must have been a very difficult decision for him......your support is wonderful.....

Tom

We did move decided we weren't close enough to the ocean and the worst part of the hurricanes, now we live on the intercoastal. A lot worse when the wind blows but way better the rest of the time. So far so good for Joe, hoping for a good season.

Keep posting, old timers make this place feel like home.

TARatko:

Thanks for sharing your story...that's what this thread is for.

Enjoy your time together pursuing what is now important. It is reassuring to know that your son's decision was primarily his own with a little urging from Mother Nature ...she puts us in our place.

quote:

What a long, strange trip it's been...

Indeed...and keep on truckin'

TARatko, as I've mentioned to you before, your son's rise to recruitability was a remarkable achievement, and serves as an inspiration to others on that same path.
Enjoy your summers!!!

TAratko,

Best of luck to your son. He is a great kid with a great Dad. I know how much you put into helping him. I hope he realizes how much his dad loves him. Also hope that baseball has taught him some valuable things that will help him later.

I'll say it again (umpteenth time)... There are many more important things than baseball! Now if I could just practice what I preach!

TAR.....

I'm much surprised, and sad, to hear about Zak!!!! I'm sure there is some 'hurting' going on, but those are some of the choices we have to make. I almost dread the day that it comes our way. I love to watch Andy play!!!!

Andy and me want to wish Zak the very, very best in what every he chooses to do. I think about you guys quite often.

We need to get together again, soon, when you have time.

Your friend, Boomer

Thank you so much! Not once did you ever bore me. I held a lot of respect for your desire to help your son and other kids. I'm glad he will have some good memories of those days. Maybe he might get the itch again to put the cleats on. There's always summer ball if he desires to stay active.

I would accept any info you would ever care to pass our way. You may have worked hard giving Zak every opportunity, but at the same time I remember all the other kids you would promote. Whether Zak ever plays again or not, I hope you stay involved. Baseball needs more people like you.

Give me a call whenever you feel like it. Tell Zak the same, we won't forget him!

TARatko,

Thank you for the help and advice you gave to this dad who didn't know which end was up when it came to showcases, summer travel ball and where the good restaurants in Ft. Myers are. My best wishes to Zak and to your entire family. Thank you for sharing your story.

Regards, Bruce.

I am 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. Throughout all the stress and struggles that go with high school life (baseball, schoolwork, girls, etc.)... I have never felt the need to do something for my parents or to impress somebody. My parents have told me since the day I could pick up a baseball and sound out the alphabet that no matter what I did they would always love me more than anything in the world.
Personally, I appreciate these stories very much because it shows the true meaning of parental guidance and love. It takes an incredible amount of calm and respect on both the parent's part (and loads of maturity on the kid's part to realize such things) to be able to grasp this as a positive and move on. Thank you for sharing your stories, it helps make a more optimistic and peaceful outlook on life

~Josh

JH:

You are a winner JH. You have a great attitude and a wonderful outlook...pat your folks on the back for me...they've done an excellent job so far in bringing you up.

gotwood:

thanks. now if you could just tell them that stuff about me maybe i can stay out a little later on weekends . lol just kidding. thanks and ill pass the message on to them.

I just came across this post and felt compelled to share our story.

My son, an '06 C/1b, told me he was calling it quits last fall after his dad committed suicide. At that time he was being recruited by quite a few schools. Of coarse I was devastated by his sudden choice to stop playing the sport he had devoted so much time and energy to just when he would have been able to bear the fruits of all his hard work. His dream had always been to play baseball at the college level.

While I was concerned with his timing in making this decision, I was supportive all the same. A few of the college coaches contacted me and told me that because of the circumstances surrounding his decision to quit, they would hold a spot for him if he decided he wanted to play again at any time down the road.

I still have a copy of the letter I sent to him, which brings tears to my eyes even now.
I thanked him for all the wonderful memories over the years. From his years playing Little League and Pony baseball to his final high school years playing with ABD.

He was the starting catcher on his HS varsity team as a freshman and they won the CIF championship his sophomore year. He was named to the 1st team ALL CIF that year, which was quite an accomplishment since he was only a sophomore. He was an All League award winner all 3 years he played.
He was also the kid who got the coaches award every year except for one, from his t-ball days through his high school career.

We have terrific memories from all the PG events including the Perfect Game National Showcase he was invited to attend at Turner Field last year.
He still wears the clay stained jersey T from that event to this day.
The fun he had spending weeks in Georgia playing at the PG chamionships each July is something he will never forget. He even traveled to Beijing China to play in the Goodwill Series with Rob Williams. He went to Beijing with his close friends and ABD teamates Chris Parmelee, who was a 1st round draft pick this year with Minnesota and Matt Jaimes, 12th round Rangers.

When he decided to hang up his cleats, so many people told me I couldn't allow him to do this with all the opportunities before him to play in college. We were all families that were very involved with our son's baseball careers. I told everyone that this was his decision to make. Of coarse I did discuss all of this with him in depth, but told him I loved him and I would support and respect whatever decision he made.

To the dismay of the high school coach he decided to play Golf instead of baseball this past spring (his senior year). He threw himself into this sport with the same intensity as he had played baseball, practicing every waking moment, but hitting golf balls instead of baseball. The Golf team went 16-0 and he was named to the All League team and once again received the "coaches award", which I feel is the most valuable award.

I told him that while baseball has been a major part of his life it does not define who he is.
He is a young man who has always shown great character on and off the baseball field and I knew he would be a success in life with or without baseball. I am very proud of the young man he has become and how he came through this horrific adversity that faced our family very unexpectedly.

Well, come the end of May when the golf season ended he came home one evening with cuts all over his hands. He told me he had been hitting baseballs. I asked why he was hitting and held my breath for his response. He told me very simply "I wanted to see if I could still hit after not picking up a bat for 8 months".
He smiled and said "Mom, I couldn't believe it, I was hitting better than ever".
He then told me he wanted to play again again and called his ABD coach Mike Spiers to see if he could play with them this summer.

Several days later, the UC Irvine coaches heard he had picked up a bat again and called and told him his spot was waiting for him if he wanted to play with them this fall.
That was always the school he wanted to play for and he will definitely need to earn his spot on this D1 team but what a blessing that he is being givien the opportunity to do so.
I can't say enough about the compassion and support that Mike Spiers (ABD)and the UC Irvine coaches (Dave Serrano, Sergio Brown and Chad Baum) have shown to him.

Right now he is in Marietta, Georgia playing at the PG 18u Tournament and will have an opportunity to play at Turner Field one more time next week at the PG BCS tournament. It was wonderful once again to see that glint in his eyes as he packed his bags for his final trip to Marietta. He told me that he loved being able to play golf but he really missed baseball. It really wasn't time for him to close the door on the sport he has such a passion for. He will be building more cherished baseball memories over these next few weeks and perhaps for years to come. If at some point down the road he decides he has swung the bat for the last time or even if it is a coach who decides that time has come, at least he will not be living with any regrets of having walked away from the sport he loves before it's time...

I have been so appreciative of everyone on the HSBB website through the years and the PG organization who has afforded our boys so many opportunities to showcase themselves and to play ball at their national events. When the 2006 draft list came out, my son commented that he could not believe how many of the players he had come to know at the many PG Showcases and events he had played in throughout the years.
The memories are all priceless!!!

God Bless you all.

Regina Pugliese