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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Climate activists back solar energy bills Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Inner Peace column: Worldwide Conflict and Resolution, Part II: Who Are You? Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Peter Costa: Baseball season opens, and memories pour in By Peter Costa More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 7:12 am By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 7:12 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The opening of professional baseball reminds me of happy days when I played in the infield in junior high school. I was encouraged to play by my mother, who thought it would be good for me to learn how to play on a team. I played, but I wasn’t really very good. I was quick and I could catch almost any ball hit to my direction. Throwing the ball to first base was very challenging for me. I was always wild. As a batter, I was hopeless. I was the worst hitter on the team. I would either swing my bat just as the ball was leaving the pitcher’s hand or swing two seconds after it landed in the catcher’s mitt. One day stands out in my memory. My childhood sweetheart and her father were coming to see me play. I was so nervous during infield practice that I threw the ball at the second baseman with such fury that it knocked him down. The coach walked into the infield and spoke to me. He told me to calm down and to try to throw my infield catches to the first baseman in an arc. Somehow I could do that as long as it was a slow runner. I needed the time to make such a slow-motion throw. The game started and I struck out two times. My girlfriend’s dad yelled encouragement to me from the bleachers. His daughter said nothing. She smiled a couple of times and I felt better. I was up at bat the third time and had fallen behind the count two strikes. The pitcher who was big for his age didn’t bother throwing fast balls to me because he could get me out easily with a slow pitch. Anyway he wound up and tossed a soft pitch that was headed right over the plate. For some reason I closed my eyes and just swung. The ball flew off the bat in a high parabola. It zoomed across the field and hit the outfield fence and fell into play. I realized what had happened and ran toward first base. The ball had rolled to a stop at the bottom of the fence. I rounded first base and chugged my way to second. As I approached the bag, I started to straighten up but heard the loud calls from my coach urging me to keep running, keep running. I arrived at third base standing up. The crowd went wild. My girlfriend’s father was on his feet clapping enthusiastically. That was the only game he ever saw me play, and for years later he considered me an athlete. I never said anything to the contrary. My one-hit season seemed to impress the coach enough to name me to the all-star team. At the all-star game I was a defensive standout and caught seven balls for outs. It was the last time I ever played baseball. My girlfriend’s father was later to become my father-in-law. Peter Costa is a columnist for GateHouse Media. He has published two books of humor and a novel. By Peter Costa More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 9, 2015 @ 7:12 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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