T-ballers make a hit on White House lawn

  • Published
  • By Capt. Elizabeth Ortiz
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) --  What could be better than playing Little League baseball on a pleasant Sunday afternoon where no score is kept, everyone on the team gets to bat and a good time is had by all? Playing at the White House in the company of the president and first lady, that's what.

Representing the Air Force, 14 Little Leaguers from here played T-ball at the White House on June 13 as part of President Bush's "Tee Ball on the South Lawn" program. Joining Bolling's Cardinals team was a team representing the Marine Corps.

Boarding two of the Air Force buses, the Bolling players and about 80 other people from here made their way to the White House.

As people from here got off the buses, Marine One helicopters were landing on the lawn of the White House, with President and Mrs. Bush on board.

When asked how he felt, Cardinals player Konnor Fenwick said he was excited to play at the White House and meet the president.

"It's a great opportunity," said his mother, Maj. Kathryn Fenwick, of the Office of Special Investigations at the Pentagon. "It's great the president takes the time out of his busy schedule to meet our Little Leaguers."

Zoe Smith, 7, was excited about "seeing the president and showing him how good I can play." Her grandfather, a former Marine, came from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to watch her play in the game. So did an aunt from North Carolina.

Before the game, the Air Force group went on a tour of the White House. Then, it was time to play ball.

"It's opening day for T-ball season 2004," said President Bush when he came out on the field to welcome and introduce the teams. He stood on the field, which was set up on the South Lawn of the White House. Scouts from Girl Scout Troop 504 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., presented the colors, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Irish, of the U.S. Air Force Band, sang the national anthem.

"(Sergeant Irish is) so good at singing because he's from Texas," joked the president.

President Bush also introduced Col. Duane Jones, commander of the 11th Wing here, as first-base coach and Marine Col. John Gumbel as third-base coach.

Before the start of the one-inning game, the president, himself a former Little Leaguer, recited the Little League Pledge with the players, evoking fairness, respect and striving to do one's best. Right after that, he "threw the first pitch" by placing a ball on the plastic tee.

The Bolling Cardinals took the field first with a "decided home-field advantage," said television sports broadcaster Joe Buck, who announced the game. The advantage extended to President and Mrs. Bush, who sat in the stands with the Air Force team.

During the 30-minute game, everyone got a chance to hit and run. Sometimes it took more than three swings to hit a fair ball. A couple times, players had to be steered in the right direction or prompted to run to the next one. There were some outs, and several players made it home.

"I never played baseball here before," Hope Kuhn said. "I never played with so many people before."

Throughout the game, Mr. Buck announced facts about the players such as what they wanted to be when they grew up and what their active-duty parents did. A rock star, a professional baseball player, a NASCAR driver, a Marine and a Soldier were some of the chosen professions. One player wanted to be either president of the United States or the White House chef.

Since no score was kept, there was no clear-cut winner. What was clear was that everyone had fun. To top it off, President Bush presented each player, coach and manager, as well as both commanders, with a baseball autographed by him.

"Getting the ball from the president was the best," Michael Ehrhart said.

The event at the White House ended with a picnic for the players and their families on the South Lawn.

"This is an experience the kids and I will never forget," said Army Staff Sgt. Jeffery Hyre, coach for the team from the White House Communications Agency.