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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Brothers hit the diamond |
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Monday, 11 August 2008 |
By COURTNEY MILLER
Staff Writer
WAPAKONETA — There is no better advice than that from a big brother. That is why, on sunny summer afternoons at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Wapakoneta, one might hear phrases such as, “Call it out!” “Choke up!” and “Plant your feet!”
That familiar scene played out last Friday, as 13-year-old A.J. Etzkorn shouted constructive criticism across the baseball diamonds to his younger brothers, Elijah, 10, and Garrett, 7, as their father, Mike, looked on.
All three Etzkorn boys are on competitive travel baseball teams for their age groups. A.J. also plays for his junior high school team and on a Dayton summer league, and Elijah and Garrett play on recreational leagues in Wapakoneta. Additionally, Mike coaches for the 10-year-old’s travel team and likes to take the children to watch games as much as possible.
“It seems like if we’re not playing ball we’re going to ball,” Mike said.
The boys hope that is a trend that continues into the future. A.J. said he would like to earn a starting position on his high school team and go on to play at a Division I or II college. Of course, going professional is also a goal of his. The middle Etzkorn child said he has similar goals, but they are a bit loftier.
“I want to play in high school and if I’m good enough I want to be drafted right into the Majors,” Elijah said.
Their father has some great expectations for the boys, as well.
“Out of three, I’d like to see at least one make it to the Big Leagues,” Etzkorn said. “I don’t know which one, but we’ll see what happens.”
The Etzkorns have a lot of help to get them going in the right direction. The family has many contraptions and trinkets at their home in rural Wapakoneta aimed at developing skills of players young and old alike. Former Redskin pitching standout and University of Cincinnati player Brian Garman also works with the boys, two of whom pitch, and high school coach Jason Brandt gives the boys some pointers on occasion, as well.
But when asked which of the three boys is the best ball player, the answer was unanimous. Along with having more time and experience on the diamond, A.J. attended many training clinics and camps as possible, although he swears he does not want to hog the spotlight.
“I’m trying to pass it down to those guys,” A.J. said about his brothers.
What he has already succeeded in is passing down his love of baseball.
“I started (playing) because I just wanted to be like my older brother,” Elijah said. “I just wanted to play baseball, too.”
Etzkorn, who played baseball in high school and recreationally, insists he does not want the boys to feel like playing ball is an obligation.
“I don’t force them (to play),” he said. “I ask them if they want to go out. If they do, we go play.”
An interest in baseball is not the only thing the three boys share.
They also all enjoy racing go-karts. A.J. was even a past track champion at Cridersville. They all like other sports, too. A.J. and Elijah play football, while Garrett enjoys playing soccer when he’s not on the diamond. Elijah also mentioned one other common occurrence in the Etzkorn household.
“We always fight a lot,” he said. “We wrestle when we disagree.”
They do agree, however, that a main attraction to the game of baseball is the fun they have no matter what the outcome of the game and the camaraderie they sense when they are out playing with friends. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 15 August 2008 )
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