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I knew an ump and his name was Blue, and he’s a good ump too

Davey the Inclusion Kid storms the field for the 16th time
June 1, 2018

Home plate ump - “I knew an old ump and his name was Blue, bet ya five dollars he’s a good ump too.” The home plate umpire controls the diamond – he is the chief who sets the tone. Some fans will not like half of his calls. The best umpires don’t care. Jonathan Beck walked out to the pitcher’s mound while David Erickson was warming up. I said to fellow photographer Eric Gooch, “Now that’s what an umpire should look like.” Eric replied, “He looks like Bobby McVey,” and he sure enough did somewhat. Beck told David his glove had to leave the game because of a gray patch on the backhand. That’s the rule. It could have a distracting strobe light hypnotizing effect on the batter. Who knows? Erickson is unflappable. He just slightly smiled and got a different glove. “That glove was good for 20 games and suddenly it’s no good,” said coach Ben Evick, shrugging his shoulders. Appoquinimink head coach Billy Cunningham came by the Cape dugout on his way to coach third base. “I’ve never seen that call,” Billy said with a smile. Evick quipped back at Billy, “You probably put him up to it.” Billy is sly like a fox, but not crazy as a loon; I wouldn’t put it past him. Beck called a great name, consistent and in total control, employing the umpires’ credo, “seldom wrong and never in doubt.”

The Inclusion Kid - Grandson Davey has now stormed the field for 16 state championship celebrations for field hockey and girls’ lacrosse. Cape has never lost a final in Davey’s history, and he’s had an older sister on each of those teams. I told – asked really – keeper of the gate DIAA Executive Director Tommy Neubauer about my grandson Davey with Down Syndrome maybe storming the field. Then Davey appeared because I summoned him. “What’s up, Fred?” he said. It was Grandpa Fred wheels off the wagon. I didn’t consult with Liza, his mom, and my son Dave was back at Cape doing interviews. The whole family does a great job teaching and enforcing boundaries – trust me, Davey needs them. He joined the pile of Cape girls, then was on the left side of the right-handed hand slap – “good game, good game” – post-game sportsmanship ritual. Saint Mark’s players and coaches smiled when they saw Davey and went out of their way to slap his hand. “Saint Mark’s is the No. 1 school in the state every year when it comes to inclusion and reaching out,” my son Dave said when I told him I went rogue with Davey. Later, Dan Cook took my photo with Anna, Lizzie and Katie as I became Inclusion Grandpa, just a few rungs below Inclusion Bus Driver Fred Harvey.

Field day - I visited the Shields Elementary School Field Day May 30, just like I did 42 years ago when I was looking for track talent and discovered 10-year-old Darren Purcell, and we’ve been friends ever since. I have always thought students at all grade levels needed more run-around time in open spaces. I was not there for the afternoon championship round, but, man, musical chairs is still cutthroat, just like 60 years ago when fat Aunt Rose sent Cousin Harry flying off the redwood deck. I also liked the half-in-the-bag 30-meter power pogo sprint. And the hula hoop is always a part of the fun. It was invented in 1958, which precedes plastic, so they were tin. Oz never gave nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have, until the hula hoop.

Summer stuff - Tournaments and camps along with crucial training sessions make for a crowded calendar if you’re a three-sport athlete. The question is, “If you’re a great athlete but don’t travel or do a sport in the summer, can you quickly catch up to those who do?” The answer is sometimes yes, you can, and sometimes no,  you can’t, because there is no justice between the lines come game time.  

Snippets - “I’ve got to run to keep from hiding.” – The Allman Brothers. Well, actually, I take photos of runners I like at events that are over before most people wake up. Check out www.seashorestriders.com and races2run.com and you’ll catch 90 percent of local races. Grandmom Rose: “Never impede the stampede, just step out of the way and take that blue chair with you.” Go on now, git!

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