AN ODE TO GREENBELT POST 136

THERE ONCE WAS A LEGION POST GREENBELT 136

WHOSE BASEBALL TEAM WAS IN NEED OF A NEW MIX.

ENTER COACH PRANGE,  HIS OWN TEAM HE WOULD MOLD,

FROM DE MATHA AND ROOSEVELT THE TALENT WOULD UNFOLD.

HIS STYLE IS STRAIGHT FORWARD, A NO NONSENSE APPROACH,

THE PLAYERS HOLD HIM IN HIGH ESTEEM AS A COACH.

THE YOUNG MEN WOULD WORK HARD AND FUNDAMENTALS PERFECT,

THROUGH PRACTICE, GAMES AND DETERMINATION THEY WOULD EARN HIS RESPECT.

TO OVERSEE AT THE HELM IS OUR BELOVED COACH DINKS,

HE'S SO PROUD OF US THIS YEAR AS THERE WERE NO (WELL ALMOST NO!) HIGH JINX!!!

THE LEAD OFF BATTER COREY WITH QUICK HANDS, THE BEST

HE WILL PUT THE DEEPEST OUTFIELDERS TO THE ULTIMATE TEST

THE FIRST PITCH IS LOW AND OUTSIDE A FAVORITE FOR FEW,

IT'S A TWO RUN HOMER WE KNEW MARCEL WAS DUE !!!!

FROM THIRD BASE YOU HEAR "HEY DAVE, PITCH IN A SPOT"

YOU KNOW HIS HOPES ARE ALL THE BATS ARE HOT!!

THE NEXT CRACK OF THE BAT COACH ED YELLS STEVE, “GET HERE,

GET HERE!”  YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO GET YOUR WHEELS IN GEAR!

JAN CALLS TO DARREN," YOUR WAY LAST TIME"

HE TURNS, HE RUNS BACK, OH YEAH THAT CATCH WAS FINE !

THE PLAY IS COMING HOME NOW, THE THROW IS WILD AND IT'S LOW,

PAUL IS SET, HE'S READY, THAT KID IS OUT, COACH TRUMAN KNOWS.

CLOSE PLAYS IN THE FIELD, REALLY DOWN TO THE WIRE,

WOULD SOMETIMES BRING OUT THE OL’ UMPIRE.

WITH HEAD DOWN COACH TROTS OVER, "HEY, LET'S UPHOLD

THE RULES AT LEAST "

BE CONSISTENT, REMEMBER, ''WE'RE THE BEAST OF THE EAST!!’

THE FANS CHEER, THEY CLAP, ENCOURAGEMENT DOES NOT CEASE,

HEY BLUE BE CAREFUL OR WE'LL RELEASE  THE CAPECE!!

DETERMINATION, PRIDE, SACRIFICES WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER AND

FALL,

WE ALL KNOW IT AS THE GREAT GAME OF BASEBALL

FOR THREE YEARS NOW THE STATE TOURNAMENT WE'VE BEEN,

GET RIGHT BACK UP THERE NEXT YEAR GUYS AND BRING BACK THE BIG

WIN. !!

ON BEHALF OF THE COACHES, PARENTS GRANDPARENTS AND SIBLINGS, THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER GREAT AND ENTERTAINING SUMMER OF AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION AND TEAMWORK. CONGRATULATIONS AND HAVE A GREAT YEAR.

A BIG FAN

(Brenda Sanford 2001)