Tyler Patterson is a first grader at Westside Elementary School.  Ty P as his coaches and teammates know him has lived off and on with his grandmother Velinda all of his life., Ty P lost his father in a truck accident when he was 3 years old. 

      Ty P has  never played any organized sports.

                       never held a bat

                      never had a glove

                     never had a dad to teach him to  throw and catch 

 

          Ty P’s first day of practice did not go so well.  He was hit by a fly ball, a grounder and foul tipped one off the machine into his face.  Velinda told me later he wanted to quit that day.  The next day the coaches put a face shield on a batting helmet and sent Ty back to the batters box.  Practice after practice went by and Ty continued to struggle hitting.  One day when Ty stepped up to bat, several of his teammates took a seat in the field.  The coach addressed this behavior, but not before Velinda saw it.  Let’s just say that the discussion following practice was a bit one sided.  That was the last straw, and Velinda and Ty were going to quit the team.

          The coach explained to Velinda to stay the course and not to give up.  The coaches told her if she would believe, then something very special would happen during the season.  Shortly after this conversation, Ty started hitting.  At first it was 1 out of 20, then 1 out of 10, then 1 out of 5, then every other one.  He also quit wearing the batting helmet with the shield. 

          In Ty’s first game of any kind, ever, Ty had no strike outs, had 5 RBI’s, and scored.  He was awarded the game ball by his coaches.  In his first 4 games, he has yet to strike out, e.g. 17 at bat with out a strike out. 

          One of the coaches asked Ty the other day why he quit wearing the helmet with the shield.  Ty answered in one word; confidence!  The coaches believe that Ty’s confidence is a result of his tremendous courage.