Few things touch San Diego families as deeply as Little League baseball. Layer in travel ball and the pool of passionate dads, moms, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents widens.
Right now across our region, Little League seasons are kicking off with opening day ceremonies that include enough soft pretzels, clean jerseys, and freshly cut grass to make just about any kid feel like anything is possible.
It’s against that backdrop that we give you the latest episode of Dear San Diego — this one focused on Little League and travel baseball with three guests who are as committed as anyone to youth baseball: Jeff Rosa, Joe Lewis and Chad Starkey.
A former college pitcher, Rosa is president of the board at San Carlos Little League, one of the most popular and successful programs in the region. SCLL feeds two local travel ball organizations, Cowboys Baseball and King Kong, as well as Patrick Henry High School, which has grown into one of the best programs in Southern California. Rosa also is a dad to two Little Leaguers and travel ball players, manager, volunteer umpire, successful realtor, church volunteer and husband.
Lewis is a board member at La Mesa National Little League, coach, volunteer umpire, personal trainer, husband and dad to two sons, including one who plays little league and travel baseball. Last year, he helped launch MTG (More Than a Game) Cowboys, a division of Cowboys Baseball. He is among the coaches working to launch a new baseball training facility, More Than a Game, in San Diego.
Starkey pitched in college after playing high school ball for legendary coach Dennis Pugh at Mission Bay High, where Starkey coached after his playing days were cut short by an injury. He is a husband and a father of two. His son plays Little League at West Hills as well as travel baseball. Most days you can find Starkey at SD CAP in El Cajon, where he gives hitting and pitching lessons to dozens of young ball players.
The three share advice for parents, coaches, and players, related to nerves, failure, car rides home, “daddy ball,” arm care, and much more. They also highlight some of the ways baseball, and the love of the game, teaches kids life skills that serve them long after they’ve finished playing the game.
Early on in the podcast, they discuss game-day parents and what should and should not be said from the stands. Their advice is blunt.
The Dear San Diego podcast with Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez is produced by JC Polk of Olas Media at the digital branding company’s studios in Mission Valley.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
