Kids and Parents Win at Stand 4 Peace Baseball Clinic

Special to the Forum

By: Dr. Darrell Lavin

By the time the sun lit up the Castro Valley High School baseball fields on Sunday afternoon, more than 120 kids and parents were all smiles. The event was the inaugural Stand 4 Peace Baseball Clinic hosted by the Joseph Matteucci Foundation, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and the Castro Valley Rotary Club.

Alameda County Undersheriff Curtis Watson greeted the young athletes and their parents. His welcome address stressed the importance of enjoying the spirit of competition without regard to the outcome of the game.

April Pavlik, a sports psychology consultant who works with the Joseph Matteucci Foundation, led a discussion with the parents that focused on sportsmanship and conflict resolution, as well as how to handle difficult parents and coaches. Her presentation reminded parents that loving their children is not attached to the score of a game.

Castro Valley resident Alexandra Matteucci shared her story about the death of her only son, Joseph, as a result of trash talking and unchecked violence. Matteucci founded the Joseph Matteucci Foundation in 1993 to educate the public on non-violence.

Former San Francisco Giant Erik Johnson, of EJ Sports in Danville, orchestrated all of the baseball skills training. He and his staff, which included national top prospect, Chris Carter of DeLaSalle High School, led the young athletes through instructional drills on hitting, throwing, catching, fielding and base running. A friendly pat on the back told the young atheletes that they were doing a good job.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office supplied lunch for all of the athletes, parents and volunteers in attendance. The deputies also assisted the baseball instructors at each skill station.

Gill Foster, cheif steward of the Teamsters Local 70, brought his 8-year-old daughter, Bridget, to the clinic. "I appreciate the time everyone took to pass the information about violence, drug abuse, the importance of playing fair, and how we as adults are role models for our children," Foster said. "It is important that we show that playing by the rules makes it safe as well as fun for all."

Foster also voiced his appreciation to the Alameda County Crime Prevention unit for their time.

As the day concluded, some left the field with new skills that they could use in their next game. Some left with skills that they could apply as they watch their children play, and some, like Gil and Bridget Foster, left with smiles that resulted from a fun day together on the baseball field.