28 - March 25, 2011
Hudson~Litchfield Sports Hudson~Litchfield Sports
Father and Son Resurrect Youth Baseball School
by Marc Ayotte With the local high school basketball and
Carl Carlson, 12, learns well as he executes a textbook hitting technique for a line-drive/gap-hitter
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hockey seasons coming to a recent and successful conclusion and with spring just around the corner, it’s time for another baseball season. The father-and-son coaching tandem of Mike Lee and son Derek Lee, after a three-year hiatus from teaching the school, have brought their teaching skills enthusiastically back to the diamond—or hardwood floor, as the case may be. Along with the enthusiasm comes experience, as both Lees are currently local high school varsity baseball coaches. Mike Lee has had a lengthy and productive stint with the Alvirne baseball team, as he has been the Bronco head coach since 1983. Son Derek is starting his second year as the head coach for the Windham baseball team, whose inaugural varsity season will be this year. Additionally, the Lees are surrounded by capable and willing volunteers to help instruct their detailed fundamentals program. Believed to be the only simultaneous father- and-son varsity baseball head coaches in the state, the Lees thought it was time to get their show back on the road. Although, as Mike Lee noted, “Derek was the catalyst in resurrecting the school.” The school that was started by Mike Lee back around 1990 teaches basic baseball skills to the youth in the town of Hudson. In using the Alvirne gymnasium for their instruction, Lee noted that this year the baseball school also
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includes youngsters from Windham. “This year is combined; next year will be separate,” added Mike Lee in reference to Windham having their own program in 2012 headed up by Derek. The school runs for five consecutive Saturdays and its two-and-a-half-hour program per day covers a vast range of baseball skills. The program is divided up into three stations: throw-catch- pitch, fielding, and hitting. In addition to the Lees’ credentials, they have surrounded themselves with capable volunteers to ensure the kids have a fun and learning experience. “It’s for the kids,” commented Mike. “That’s the bottom line; it’s all about them. This wouldn’t happen without volunteers from the high school.” With hands- on instruction by Derek Lee and AHS pitching coach Adam Perkins, the kids are getting lots of one-on-one attention and guidance. Perkins comes with his own impressive resume, as he
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www.brakeandgo.com Derek Lee gives Chris Tufts, 8, pointers on the proper grip
not only holds the all-time single-season wins record of 13 at URI, but the Alvirne grad also pitched in the Cape Cod League.
An enthusiastic Derek Lee recalled that as a
youth, he attended his dad’s school. “My friends remember going to this camp—I hope it’s here to stay.” The enthusiastic 26-year-old hopes to utilize this school as well as two summer camps that he runs through the Windham School District as a feeder program of sorts for high school baseball. His main objective is to develop continuity from youth baseball up to the high school level. He believes baseball can be fun: “You got to make it competitive; that’s the key to making it fun.” In alluding to the fact that baseball players – in particular, batters – can fail 70 percent of the time and still be considered successful, Lee takes a larger, more philosophical look on his teachings. He notes that baseball can teach a “life lesson of dealing with adversity. Baseball deals with it more than in other sports.” As a college baseball player at Ripon College in Wisconsin as well as at Keene State, Derek not only brings his baseball savvy to the Lee baseball school; more importantly, he shares his inherent desire to help the youthful upstarts learn the fundamentals of America’s pastime.
Mike Hogan's
photos by Marc Ayotte
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