Baseball and #8 : Tom Fritch
The best move ever made was picking Tom for our baseball team several seasons ago. We actually picked him every single year thereafter and we joked that he was the only player with a long term contract in BBA - but that he could opt out if he ever got tired of us. (One year, we even secretly broke the rules and traded a player for him.)
Tom was always the fan favorite and most well-liked player among his teammates. He loved baseball, but probably loved the things that go along with it more - the friendships, the humor. But Tom had an uncanny ability to come through when his team needed him most.
In one game we were leading by a run but the other team had the bases loaded. Tom was playing left field when an "impossible to catch" ball was hit like a laser towards him. My view was blocked for a moment as the stands erupted in pandemonium - cheering that Tom had somehow caught this nasty, hooking line drive bullet. He was mobbed by his teammates. It later proved to be the game-saving catch. I said, "Tom - that was unbelievable - how did you do that?" He said, "Coach, actually - I wasn't even paying attention. I was watching this bird in the woods and everyone started yelling and before I knew it the ball seemed to hit me on the arm and I caught it somehow."
Other noteworthy escapades were when he went up to the plate with an enormous plastic "fat bat" which was probably a foot wide - much to the consternation of the umpire, and then the time he struck out while watching an antique plane in the sky, saying "I never saw a plane like that". He had the entire crowd on Cleary Field, including the umpires and coaches, watching this plane. And of course the many times he drove in a run from 3rd base when all seemed lost, and finally, the many times he'd ask: "Did we win?" during a team celebration.
Tom was a good player who always gave his best effort, cared deeply about his teammates and was always respectful to the coaches and everyone. He was an example to all players on how to conduct yourself and how to have fun. Tom wasn't overly comfortable with getting too much attention, but that humility was one of the endearing characteristics that make him someone others his age should aspire to emulate. He leaves many others who will miss him deeply with these memories and hopefully the wisdom to see the meaningfulness his life brought to us. We were blessed to know him.
In life, Tom Fritch made us smile. When I think of him, that's what I will always continue to do.
Posted by The Bono Family
Friday November 15, 2013 at 11:31 am