Matt Levins - The Hawk Eye
ST. LOUIS — It is the dream of many kids to one day put on a Major League Baseball uniform, to play in a Major League stadium.
Many a backyard game and sandlot pickup game revolves around just that — kids playing out their dreams in a real-life setting.
The Notre Dame High School baseball team got a chance to actually live out their dreams, thanks to some ground work by head coach Chris Chiprez and a lot of behind-the-scenes work by a group of parents to make their kids’ dreams become reality.
On Sunday afternoon, less than two hours after the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3, in front of over 42,000 fans at Busch Stadium, the Nikes got to play an exhibition game against Williamsburg on the very same field.
The Nikes had the time of their lives. It didn’t matter who won or how anyone did. It was all about having fun, living out a dream only a small percentage of kids ever get to realize.
It was about making memories.
Junior Landry Haberichter got the thrill of a lifetime, making a spectacular diving catch in center field.
Fellow junior Payne Prottsman looked like a Major Leaguer on the mound, throwing darts in his one inning of work. He struck out two sandwiched around Haberichter’s sensational catch.
The highlight for the Nikes came later in the game when eighth grader Gavin Boelens came in and struck out three straight batters on just 10 pitches.
While the Nikes lived out their dreams in a surreal setting under the shadow of the Gateway Arch, their parents dealt with various emotions. With cellphones clicking photos and recording the moment, some parents were moved to tears watching their sons do something they never thought possible.
Gavin Boelens’ mother, Micki, couldn’t hold back the tears after watching her son have the time of his life.
For all, it was the chance of a lifetime.
“It’s a great experience for them. They work hard every day. They work hard all season long. They deserve to have moments like this,” Micki Boelens said. “It’s special. We’re so proud of him.”
Chiprez made sure every Notre Dame player got into the game. He also made sure every member of the coaching staff got the chance to stepping into the coaches’ boxes at first and third base.
While Chiprez tries to make sure every player who comes through the program gets to play at Busch Stadium, there are no guarantees of coming back.
“That was my goal — to make sure I played everybody. I made two starting lineups. I had a timeline that I followed,” Chiprez said. “I told the coaches you are part of the program. You’ve helped build this into what it is. You guys all deserve a chance to get out there and coach. That was my other goal was to get all of them out there.”
In order to even get a chance to play at Busch Stadium, the Nikes had to raise $40,000. They sold tickets and raised money from the community, who helped make the dream come true for the Nikes.
“We have to thank the parents for helping out and selling the tickets,” Chiprez said. “But also we had a lot of support from the community. Whether they were buying sponsorship banners or buying tickets in bulk.”
A group of Notre Dame moms made everything happen. Their tireless work behind the scenes planning the logistics for two days in St. Louis did not go unnoticed.
And certainly was greatly appreciated.
“We had four moms from the baseball team — Susan Reid, Amanda Randall, Leah Haberichter and Angie Prottsman — kind of head up this deal with all the tickets and stuff, getting the rooms and the church,” Chiprez said. “It was a total team effort from start to finish.”
The total team effort paid off in a lifetime of memories for all involved.
“It was so awesome. It’s not like any other field I’ve played at. The field is just amazing. I was talking to my teammates. It’s like a golf green out there. The turf is so well managed. It’s awesome. The scenery, the Arch, all the surrounding buildings, it’s just beautiful,” “Haberichter said. “It didn’t really hit me until I went down there. I was expecting to play down there, but I didn’t realize how big of a deal this was to get to play here. I am really grateful for it. All the hard work the parents and coaches put in for this for us to come down here and do something we’ve always dream of is awesome.”
Memories were made. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. What you did on the field doesn’t matter. Just being able to come down here as a Notre Dame team and be able to play and compete with your brothers on a Big League field. You can’t get any better than that,” Chiprez said. “It’s a blessing that we got to play down here. You have to take that and put it in the back of your mind. Keep it as a memory. Get back to business tomorrow and see what happens.”