CUTLINE: From left, Craig Plaisted, Dale Goodell, Penny Coleman, Marty Burroughs and Bob Brooks.
By JOHN ANDERSON (Ground photos by John Anderson, aerial drone photos courtesy Nick Davis, Genesee Valley Media)
It’s not often the weather forecasters are right this many days in a row. But they predicted seven straight days of rain and no baseball, and that is what we have received.
However, even the best weather technology could not predict what was going to happen on Friday night at Hank Sinkey Field in Wellsville’s Island Park.
The sun would come out long enough to honor Ron Coleman.
For the first time in almost 50 years, Wellsville Little League was not going to have an “Opening Day” ceremony without Ron umpiring. He passed away on September 23, 2024 at the age of 72.
All high school events were canceled across the county in anticipation of a 5 p.m. massive storm. But the storm held off long enough for the Wellsville Little League to hold ceremonies, honor Ron Coleman and have his wife, Penny, throw out the first pitch.
Penny Coleman talked about Ron overcoming health odds to live another year, a year he umpired Little League and Section V baseball games.
“God was merciful and gave us an extra year and four months with Ron,” she said. “I also praise the Lord, he gave Ron the love of baseball, working with you and his proud faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. So I know now, Ron is more alive than ever.”
She added, “Ron was hard-working, fun-loving, a promise keeper, an encourager and a mentor. His goal was to make sure all the players have fun and learn the game. Best of all was watching him, when he made a call at the plate, there was no doubt, his whole body emphasised the call!”
Family and friends of Ron Coleman along with his umpires were there for opening day in his honor.
A four-man umpire crew showed up to do the game. They turned away work, varsity assignments and one of them, doctors orders, to umpire the game. The umps enjoyed an hour before the game catching up with the Coleman family and extended family.
C.J. Rahr, who stepped down as president of Wellsville Little League last year was asked by the new president, Ryan Clark, to say some words about Ron. It was fitting. C.J. played while Ron was his umpire, coached and eventually asked him to umpire games.
The sun stayed out and the wind started blowing the American flag and Little League flag.
C.J. then took the mic. He said, “In our Constitution: The objective of the Wellsville Little League shall be to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens.
“Ron Coleman was a man who lived these values and was an excellent role model as a volunteer.
“When you have a volunteer like Mr. Coleman, you are lucky. He knew the rules of the game, was easy to work with, was dedicated and most importantly, you could tell by watching him that he had fun. I will miss his high-leg kick punch out on a called strike three. I can tell you that the President of any Little League is tasked on game days with many things to watch over, but when volunteers like Ron and the rest of the district umpires are calling your game, your mind can rest that there won’t be any issues regarding the interpretation and application of the rules on that evening.
“Ron worked the field with compassion to not only teach the players, but also the adults. If a coach was starting to cross the line of good sportsmanship, Ron wouldn’t embarrass the coach by yelling across the field. He would take the time between innings to discuss a call and how one should appropriately conduct oneself.
Ron was also very respectful of others. During one tournament season, Wellsville was hosting the 9-10 year old tournament and because of rain, we needed to play two games on one weeknight. One at 6:00pm and the other to follow. Two umpires are usually assigned in that situation. One works the field in game one, and will then umpire the plate for game two. Game one was a slugfest that took over 3 and 1/2 to complete. During tournaments at the LL level, teams can not start an inning after midnight. Now I remind you, that this was a weeknight and people had to get up to go to work the next morning. Game two didn’t start until after 10 pm. Ron never complained or questioned me on the decision to move forward with that game. He knew all the players were here and ready to go and we do our best to get the games in because you never know when Mother Nature may through you a curveball with several days of rain. I highly respect Ron for his work ethic that evening … staying up and umpiring the plate until 11:59 pm when the last out was made to end the game.
“I also respect him for his dedication.
C.J. continued, “Last summer, he was umpiring at the plate without the full use of his voice. He understood that District 2 Little League is challenged with getting umpires for all the tournament games and he continued to do his part. It is experienced and dedicated umpires like Ron that assist in making Wellsville and District 2 Little League the standard for how to run a tournament… a dedication that took Ron to the Intermediate Little League World Series.
To our young baseball players who are assembled today. Emulate someone like Ron, someone who volunteered to his community, had fun on the baseball field, was compassionate, caring, and dedicated to put in the time to excel and what he did to allow him take it to the furthest levels.”
Drone photos courtesy Nick Davis, Genesee Valley Media:
