Owen Wolfe lives and breathes baseball. When the pandemic put a hold on live games, the Elizabethtown Area Middle School student turned to the virtual baseball lessons of James Lowe, known by his Instagram handle and YouTube name, Coach Ballgame.
"The positive, encouraging instructions helped sharpen his skills at a time he couldn't be out on the field," said Owen's father, Jeremy.
Owen was inspired by Coach Ballgame's message of giving back, so with his father, Owen created the Atta Boy Baseball Fund, giving a nod to one of Coach Ballgame's catchphrases. Owen hoped to raise funds to send 25 kids to baseball camp who otherwise wouldn't have the means to participate.
"Owen and I talked, and he said, 'Why don't we help some kids around here?'" said Jeremy. "Growing up, baseball meant a lot to me, and I know there are a lot of kids out there who need equipment and camp fees to be able to take part in a game." The pair's fundraising efforts caught the attention of Coach Ballgame, and in August, Lowe made a stop in Elizabethtown on a cross-country tour that featured appearances in major cities, including Los Angeles, St. Louis and Chicago. He ran a free sandlot baseball camp for boys and girls and got to meet Owen in person.
At the sandlot game, 70 children ages 6 through 12 turned out to meet Coach Ballgame and play baseball in a fun and relaxed environment. "It was really well received," Jeremy said of the visit. "So many parents thanked us and said their kids had a really hard time getting out on the baseball field because of fear or anxiety, and this opened a door to them."
Along with baseball, Coach Ballgame teaches life lessons and emphasizes that baseball should be fun above all else. That's a message Jeremy tries to impart to Owen and his teammates as well. Jeremy has coached Owen, now 12, since he was 7 years old.
"Kids have a (slim chance) of being drafted (to play professional ball), but they have a 100% chance of carrying over what they're taught in the game of baseball," Jeremy explained. "Baseball teaches respect, honor, discipline, courage and, most importantly, failure. ... The first thing I teach my kids is I don't chase the trophy. I focus on the relationships they're going to form, the memories they're going to make and the character they're going to build through baseball."
Jeremy and Owen are still raising money through their GoFundMe page and plan to use some of the funds to bring Coach Ballgame back next year and hold additional free pickup sandlot games for kids.
While bringing Coach Ballgame to Elizabethtown was a highlight for the Wolfes this summer, Jeremy said spending time with his son meant even more. "This experience has been just as good for me as it was for him," he noted. "The opportunity to meet Coach Ballgame in person was great, and the opportunity to show kids that it's OK to have fun with baseball without all the pressure to perform was even better."
To donate to the Atta Boy Baseball Fund, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f/atta-boy-baseball-fund.
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