Living Proof
Day 6, June 22, 2015
The day started with, what else? Morning work on the bus and a wife ball game in the parking lot. Today's itinerary listed a tour of Wofford College followed by game in their stadium. But when approached by the Monarchs to play a game at Russell C. King Field, Wofford Head Baseball Coach Todd Interdonato had a better idea.
The Anderson Monarchs Civil Rights barnstorming Tour is a trip into a past most every adult on the bus lived through only via newspaper and TV reports…more than 50 years ago.
Day 6, however, uncovered a more recent past. Demetrius Jennings, a former Monarch playing Divison 1 baseball at Wofford College greeted the current Monarchs as they arrived at the stadium. Coach Interdonato had arranged for Jennings to leave his summer league baseball team, and spend a day with the young Monarchs.
Jennings is no star on the Wofford team. He is a reserve infielder/outfielder, but prepared to complete his biology degree next year, and attend grad school for Physical Therapy. More importantly he carries a presence and confidence that is already evident in the current Monarchs.
With the dream of real sports success as dependent on luck as much as skill and hard work, Jennings is the perfect model for the Young Monarchs. Jennings has used baseball to prepare for life once his playing days are done.
Jennings was an exceptional student and played with the Monarchs through age 12. When the team lost too many players to continue, Jennings moved to the Philadelphia Senators and eventually Penn Charter HS, where he starred in baseball.
His words to the players about commitment and sacrifice, echo the snippets of advice Monarchs manager Steve Bandura dispenses one drop at a time. The concept of living a life of character is the most repeated message on this trip.
Both the Monarchs and their opponent, AllOutBaseball, got a tour of the college. After passing through a terraced tennis complex, the group came upon Old Main, and the admissions guide gave a brief history of the building. I couldn't help but notice the flag at half mast (for the Charleston, SC killings) lined up behind the kids, . A striking reminder that even when pondering the future, the past is often very present.
The tour included a chance to handle a snake from the Psych department, with Myles Eaddy taking the mantle of team snake charmer.
After lunch in the cafeteria, both teams dressed in the Wofford clubhouse and got a pre-game speech from Jennings.
Jennings spent the game in the Monarchs dugout, and much like Max Scherzer on Friday, was anxious to talk baseball, and life, with the players.
The game, a 9-5 Monarchs win, again featured solid defense from the kids from South Philly. They patch together runs with aggressive base running and timely hits, and their pitchers are comfortable letting the fielders do the work. After a rally in the fifth, AOB, got themselves within a handful of runs before their last at bat, but Mo’ne came in and shut the door on another Monarchs victory.
After a couple Coors-Field-like routs that consisted mostly of walks and doubles, this game was a more competitive affair, on yet another sultry afternoon, with lots of action on the bases.
Tamir Brooks scores on a wild pitch
Alex Johnson reaches in for a tag
Zion Spearman takes third the hard way
The bus ride to Atlanta, interrupted by a kids-choice, Chick fil A meal, dropped us in Buckhead, in the northwest suburbs. Today (Tuesday) starts the real heart of this trip with a visit to the Martine Luther King National Historic Site, and Wednesday's journey to the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham seems to be where all the media attention is set to collide.