The boys (of summer) are back (almost)

It's almost time for the sights and sounds of summer in Wilson and that means the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the booming voice of public-address announcer Alton Britt.

If you live less than a mile from Fleming Stadium, as I do, you can hear Alton's voice carrying through the thick, summer air as he announces the next batter for the Wilson Tobs.

That's right, the Tobs season is almost here. They begin next Wednesday on the road at Coastal Plain League rival Fayetteville then return home the next night for their Fleming Stadium opener against the Asheboro Copperheads.

Tobs manager Jeff Steele, however, might not be there by the first game. In real life, Steele is the pitching coach at Lubbock Christian University, which is playing in the NAIA World Series that runs from Friday to May 29.

But before the Tobs get going, the Wilson American Legion Post 13 team starts its season Monday night against Clayton Post 71 at Smithfield-Selma High School. Post 13 will play its home opener Friday, May 29, against Raleigh Post 1 in Fleming.

The original opener for Post 13 was to have been Friday in Fleming against Pitt County Post 39 but the high school playoffs have limited each team's ability to field a full roster.

Rusty Dail is back as Post 13's head coach while Parker Davis and Daniel Johnson return as assistant coaches.

Also pushing back their opener is the Post 13 junior team, which canceled two dates this week and will now launch its season Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Washington on the Fike High School diamond.

The junior Legion team has a new coaching staff as Jay Wheeler stepped down and former Greenfield School coach Robert Stokely stepped up. Stokely, now in private business, will have Jay Lamm helping him.

Wilson is a 'Special Place'

Here's a feel-good item from Eric Simmons, whose son, Derek, is a member of the Wilson Tobs summer collegiate baseball team. I'm glad to hear of his wonderful experience and it serves as yet more proof the Wilson Tobs are so much a part of summer life in Wilson.

Thank you, Mr. Simmons!

This week my youngest son (Kevin) and I had the great opportunity to visit
Wilson, North Carolina. The experience was so moving, I wept before I left.

My oldest son (Derek) is a member of the Wilson Tobs. When he boarded his
flight from Atlanta to join the team, I didn't quite know what to expect.
Heretofore, he had never been in a "Host Family" environment as relates to
baseball. I worried about how he would handle this "new" situation in his
life. He was headed off to live with a new family in a new town with new
teammates, a new coach and playing in a new facility. Everything was "new".

When I met Derek's "Host Family" (Marc and Lisa Geeting), I knew right away
my son was in good hands. Upon meeting Tobs General Manager Ben Jones, Tobs
Head Coach Jeff Steele and various friends of the Geeting family, my
feelings about my son's well being were further substantiated. I came to
the conclusion Derek is amongst Special People and in a very Special Place.

Ben (Jones) took Kevin and I on a tour of North Carolina's "Baseball Hall of
Fame". Previously, I had no idea of the contributions your state has had
and continues to have in terms of baseball lore.

Fleming Stadium is incredible. Following a game this week, while looking
for Derek, Kevin and I found ourselves in the Tobs' locker room. It's hard
to describe but right away I knew my son and I were standing in a "Special
Place".

My hat's off to Marc and Lisa Geeting for being such great hosts to my son.
I tip my hat to the Tobs organization for their outstanding work. I applaud
the Wilson community for their support of aspiring professional baseball
players.

I like the "Chicken Dance". I like the "Dizzy Bat Spin". I like the
"Tricycle Race". I like the "Frozen Shirt" contest. I really like, "Throw
the high stinky cheese!"

Of all of the things I like the most however is the people of Wilson, North
Carolina. You are "Special People" and you reside in a very "Special
Place". Thank you for so graciously embracing Derek and the Simmons family.

Respectfully,

Eric Simmons

Former Tob Thomas 'Out in Left Field' in blogosphere

From Larry and Carroll Gaissert comes the word of a blog by former Wilson Tobs outfielder Jeff Thomas, who is preparing for his senior season at Northern Illinois University.

In his most recent entry, Thomas discusses the tragic shooting on the NIU campus a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure that's not what he had in mind when he agreed to keep a blog but his perspective of the tragedy and the effect it has on the entire university, including the baseball team, are worth reading.

Thomas played in just 34 games for the Tobs last summer as he was hampered by injuries. He batted .200 and scored 22 runs while stealing all four bases he attemped to purloin.

The Gasserts were his host family in Wilson.

Jeff Thomas: Out in Left Field