‘We just want to see the kids do a good job’

For the Collins family, running off to the ballpark on summer nights is a tradition.

“To watch the kids go from T-ball — and they move from phase to phase — go from T-ball  to pitching machine…it’s exciting to see them go from phase to phase,” said Melissa Collins, watching her son, Dylan, play baseball on Tuesday night at Morse Park.

But that’s not the only family to have a summer sports tradition. The Caputos head to the ballpark several times a week to see their two sons and daughter play.

“Baseball is my favorite sport, and I love watching them play,” said Darla Caputo. “It’s such a positive sport.”

Jason Payton comes to watch his daughter, Maggie, play softball.
“It mainly just gives her something fun to do, keeps her out of trouble,” he said.
Payton isn’t a big fan of watching baseball on television, but he doesn’t get tired of going to the ballpark to see his daughter.

“I get more excitement out of coming down here (to Morse Park) and watching these kind of games…” he said.

In fact, a lot of people don’t find their inner-sports fan until they’re sitting in the ballpark stands.

Rita Brock, grandmother to Jacob Brock, said she gets excited about a ballgame “just when it’s my grandson playing.”

She added, “I haven’t missed very many (games). I think we should come and encourage our children.”
Brock is one of several grandmothers and grandfathers who came to Morse Park Tuesday night and watched their grandchildren play. They get just as much enjoyment out of it as the parents, if not more. One grandfather, who used to coach, said it can be difficult to just watch.

“It’s hard not to coach from the bleachers,” said Richard Leaf.

Gordon Williams, another grandfather, added, “Our wives are telling us to keep our mouths shut.”

Fathers — and sometimes mothers —also deal with the urge to direct the players from the stands, and in many cases, fathers will become coaches for their son’s team.

“I just have a lot of fun with all the kids,” said Clint Kelley, who helps coach his son, Gage. “It’s exciting and fun just to be down here and enjoy the experiences with them.”

By far, the loudest cheers on Tuesday night came from the bleachers surrounding the youngest players. Dee-Dee Marcoux, watching her son, Weston, thinks a lot of cheering is important for the young players’ morale.

“It’s still a learning process, and I think all the kids want to know that we’re supporting them and encouraging them,” she said.

Her husband, Brian Marcoux, joked, “I can’t hear anything over her cheering.”

Dee-Dee still maintains that with her young son’s team, learning teamwork principles and having a good time come before winning.

“It’s still fun at this level,” she said. “It’s competitive, but it’s not cutthroat competitive. I don’t know how it is at the bigger level because I don’t have any kids up there yet, but at this level, we just want to see the kids do a good job.”