YOUTH BASEBALL

YOUTH BASEBALL
Writer's attackwas unjustified
Fanfare:
I was very disappointed that an attack on the board members of the Liberty Township Baseball Association was published in the Fanfare column (June 1).
The Liberty Township Baseball Association (LTBA) has long enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the township in the care and maintenance of Center Park, the home of the LTBA.
The township does provide for grass cutting and trash pickup in the park. It must be noted that the park is a public park and used by residents not involved in baseball, even during baseball season.
The township has made significant investment in drainage systems that benefit the league. These investments began over 15 years ago at a time when the baseball organization was not in financial position to make these improvements.
For its part, the LTBA is responsible for field maintenance and improvements. From 1998 to 2002, $67,000 was invested by the LTBA in field improvements such as lighting and reconstruction of baseball diamonds. In addition, over $27,000 was spent in general field maintenance.
Physical structures, such as stadium lights, once constructed become the property of the township. These structures are, therefore, included in the township insurance coverage.
The LTBA also maintains various insurance plans for sports accidents and liability. Over $10,000 in insurance premiums were paid by the LTBA from 1998 to 2002. The writer of the June 1 letter was inadequate in his assessment of these issues.
The township provides certain utilities that benefit the baseball organization. These include electricity, water and sewer for the building used as a concession stand by the league.
The concession stand represents an important fundraiser for the league. The LTBA is responsible for the gas bill in the concession stand and the electric bill for the lighting. Almost $4,000 of gas and electric bills were paid by the LTBA from 1998 to 2002. The writer of the June 1 letter was inaccurate on this point.
The LTBA stands "accused" of making a profit the majority of the last five years. In three of the last five years, the LTBA spent more than revenue received. The deficits are funded by carryover surplus from the prior years. Recent spending includes the field investments cited above.
The writer of the June 1 letter suggests that a registration fee of $60 is too high and is paid by all participants. The fee to play in Liberty ranges from $35 to $75 depending on the age of the player and discounts applied for new players.
The league caps the amount paid by a family and allows children to play without paying a registration fee based on need.
The June 1 letter is signed by a former member of the LTBA board. He is also a sitting Liberty Township trustee, who has had access to all of the statistics cited here and is without excuse so flagrantly misrepresenting them.
Stephen W. Tharp
Hubbard
XThe writer is treasurer of the Liberty Township Baseball Association.
FATHER'S DAY
Writer recallsDad's fine example
Thanks Dad.
Thanks for being there when I need you most during those times when I couldn't figure things out exactly just right on my own.
Thanks for going to work every day at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and working overtime to make sure I had a ballglove or shoes for school or lunch money.
Thanks for setting the bar so high that I have been forever trying to be as good a Dad to my three kids as you were to my sister and me.
Thanks for spending time with me. And thanks for making me go to church and thanks even more for going to church with me once you decided later in life that we both belonged there. Maybe it's because we did that together, I feel that in some way you will acknowledge this thank-you note from me even though you've been watching your baseball games from Heaven since 1986.
Thanks Dad for making me go to school. I didn't really want to go to college, but you saw the value of getting an education and you kept after me until I saw things your way.
Dad, today I appreciate the fact that you didn't go in and complain and attack my coaches or teachers because of my lack of playing time or low test grades. You just made me work harder.
Thanks Dad for getting me involved in sports. I've had a lifetime of playing, coaching and now mostly watching. I've met hundreds of young people at schools all over Northeast Ohio, Tennessee and Texas thanks to athletics. I've been blessed by the lesson the games have taught me and my children.
Dad, things are different now. It's a cellphone world full of things like $90 million-plus shoe contracts and multi-million-dollar beer commercials on TV. I'm not really sure the world is a better place.
I look back at the home-run race of 1961 between Mantle and Maris and treasure how we made it a priority in our daily routine to know who was ahead on any particular day. At age 56, I have lived long enough to see Mark McGwire break Maris' record, only to be outdone in 2001 by Barry Bonds. But to be honest, I would trade all of these "recent memories" just to be able to sit down with you again and listen to you "relive" your memories of when you saw Ted Williams or Dizzy Dean or Bob Feller or other heroes that you grew up with in your youth.
Dad, above all, you let me dream and you gave me hope. You never quit being my Dad, even when there were times when I knew that I let you down. I think of you every day. I want you to know that I've tried to live my life by the example you set.
It's funny how as a coach, most people judge success or failure based on final numbers posted on a scoreboard. I've really enjoyed being called "Coach Cravens. As a high school administrator, I'm called "Mr. Cravens." With three children and three grandchildren, I'm often honored with the title of "Dad" or "Grandpa." Still, I can honestly put only one very special person's picture together with those names in mind -- Dad, you were the greatest.
Happy Father's Day,
John
XJohn Cravens, assistant principal at Canfield High School.