The Noxon Cougars continued their winning streak with a 17-3 victory against Plains at Amundson Sports Complex last Tuesday, but winning isn't the most important part of the minors level of baseball, said both coaches, it's learning the game and having fun.

Fun was a little difficult at last week's game when Mother Nature turned on the wind and cold. Several students donned coats. One warmed up in a vehicle when his team was up to bat and several on the Plains team used hand warmers donated by Joel Collett, owner of Studs Building & Home in Plains.

"We've had very cold weather this year. The kids are always shivering and saying it's cold," said Roland Chambers, who coaches the Cougars and was undefeated as of last week and with only one game left in the six-game season. Chambers has been a coach for nine years on multiple T-ball, minors and majors teams. The colder weather affects the way the kids play, said Amy McGraw, head coach for Plains. "It's hard for the pitcher to hold the ball and it hurts the catcher's hands when the ball hits," said McGraw, who added that outfielders get bored and cold because they're not moving.

The minors level, which comprises of 9-10-year-olds, is the third level of youth baseball and the first to have a player pitch to the batters. Chambers coaches 13 boys and two girls on the Cougars. The Plains team and has 10 players, all boys, and is assisted by Rachel Doble. Plains has two wins and two losses and a home game scheduled for Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. against Superior. A tournament is scheduled for May 14 in St. Regis. Chambers is assisted by Gunner Swanson of Noxon.

"There are winners and losers in every aspect of life. Thinking otherwise prevents a person from attempting to achieve their best, it allows for mediocrity," said McGraw. "So, I hope the boys learn the sport, but in a way that also helps them win. Defeat should never be an option, but learning from a loss is all right, too, as long as you move on and apply the lessons," she said.

Minors players have a longer attention span than the younger levels of rookies and T-ball, but not a lot, said McGraw, who taught T-ball last year, and who had to remind at least one player to take his glove with him to the field. "I like this age, they still think I'm smart," said McGraw. "The kids are at an age where they take instruction, but also are funny and quirky. I really like learning about their individual personalities and styles," she added.

In minors, the kids are taught baseball basics, such as hitting, throwing, catching, stealing bases, and knowing how many outs there are left. "We even teach them the best way to get hit by a pitch so they don't get hurt," said Swanson. "At this stage, we're really teaching them confidence and good sportsmanship, too," said Swanson.

"It's definitely a challenge for both batting and pitching," said Chambers. "At bat they are nervous of getting hit and as pitchers they are nervous about hitting batters," he said. Even so, several batters were smacked, including two Cougars taking a ball to the helmet, though no one was hurt. Pitching for the Cougars was Laendyn Buckner, Tyrell Troyer and Calvin Anderson. For Plains, it was Mason Goodwin, Bobby Suess and Cameron Barr. McGraw said it's tough at this level to teach them to throw strikes and to recognize when to swing at strikes because pitchers are so inconsistent with their throws.

The minors play six innings or for two hours. Tuesday's game at Plains ended in the fourth inning when time ran out. Most of the kids were walked, hit by the pitcher or singled, and few batters reached the outfield, but there were a couple multiple base hits. Joseph Wengerd hit a home run in the third inning, his second of the season. Nevertheless, Chambers feels the most important objective for the kids is to have organized fun, but he also said its gratifying to see their improvements as the season progresses. McGraw added that it's important for the kids to grow through adversity. "If a kid can learn to shake off a failure and try again they're ahead of the game. Quitting or being afraid of failure can be paralyzing and I hope that they learn how to overcome failures and learn from mistakes instead," said McGraw, who added that patience is one of the toughest parts of baseball at this level. "I think that is the hardest part for them, the long minutes of boredom punctuated by sudden hits and the scramble to stop the runner," she said.

Ed Moreth

MADE IT – Plains minor league player Gavin Brown steals home long before the ball arrives against the Noxon Cougars. Ben Turner, who was up at bat, encourages him on. The Noxon catcher is Andrew Frank.

Both coaches were proud of their teams and felt the kids did well. McGraw said the boys have learned a lot in the past few weeks. "Their dedication to their team is wonderful to watch," said McGraw. "If anything, I hope they learn a love of the game for the family it brings them, even if they lose a game here and there."