GRASSROOTS BASEBALL
BETHESDA TEAM RESTORES SPORT TO ITS TRADITIONAL SPOT ALONGSIDE MOM, APPLE PIE

Published on August 9, 2002, The Washington Times
Section: B Page Number: 01 Article Category: METROPOLITAN Source: TWT

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By Jon Ward
Bruce Adams has made a success out of nostalgia. So it was music to his ears recently when a fan arriving at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda - home of the Bethesda Big Train baseball team - walked up and told him, "When I come here, I feel like I'm in a small town." That's exactly the feeling that Mr. Adams, who oversees the Big Train, a team in the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League, wants all his paying customers to have: a feeling of coming home.

The league itself is a throwback to older, simpler days. Players use wooden bats instead of aluminum, and umpires have instructions to eject any soreheaded player who curses loudly or throws a bat.

The games are as much about families and children as they are about high-quality baseball played by college students here for the summer. Moms bring feasts of fried chicken and cake for their little boys' and girls' birthday parties, or they wait until dads in suits show up to grill under the Davis Family Pavilion.

During the game, there are children everywhere. They are in the stands, pleading with their parents for more money for food and souvenirs. They banter with the pitchers in the bullpen. They gather in the parking lot, waiting for foul balls to carom their way.

Their dads sit by themselves, content that their children are occupied and grateful for the chance to enjoy a slice of old-fashioned life.

"To me, there's nothing more relaxing than a baseball game on a warm summer evening," said Ken Smith, 54, who brought his 10-year-old son, Emory, who, of course, was chasing foul balls.

"When Mom wants some time, it's a nice last-minute sort of thing," said Paul d'Hedouville, 35, who swept his son, Paul Jr., 10, out of the house. Moms sit in packs, chattering away, delighted that their children are not asking them for more money.

The historic Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League has undergone a rebirth in the past few years, a result of Mr. Adams' drive to make the league a gathering place for the local community.

The Griffith league began in 1945 and played many of its games on the National Mall. For many years, it was a good summer baseball league, but by the early '90s, it was unknown, overshadowed by a busy metropolitan sports scene. Then Mr. Adams discovered it in 1997.

Mr. Adams, who works in public policy and was on the Montgomery County Council from 1986 to 1994, fell in love with the league and decided to devote himself to improving it.

He set his sights on an average county-owned baseball field at Cabin John Regional Park.

After numerous companies and individuals donated labor and money, the $2 million Shirley Povich Field was built. It is a 606-seat baseball shrine named in honor of the legendary sportswriter who spent more 70 years at The Washington Post going back to the days when Walter "Big Train" Johnson pitched for the old Washington Senators.

Mr. Adams is the founder and president of the Big Train, which ended its fourth season at Povich Field on July 23 in second place with a record of 26-13.

The league is perfect for players like Aaron Batlle, 19, who played for the Big Train after finishing his first year of college ball at Galveston Junior College in Texas.

Mr. Batlle was not well-known, but he came to the Big Train, impressed manager Derek Hacopian with his attitude and hard work and became one of the team's outstanding players. Mr. Batlle played a variety of positions in the infield, hit .275 in 102 at bats and made the all-star team.

"The league has always been a quality baseball league," said John Depenbrock, league commissioner from 1997 to 2000. "But Bruce has done an outstanding job of is getting the community to be supportive of their local teams."

"The kind of environment he's created is helping bring the community together."

The Bethesda club has donated $100,000 of revenue from Povich Field to improve numerous youth baseball fields in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, as well as in the District.

There also are three new teams in the league that intend to duplicate Povich Field's remarkable aesthetics and create a similar community-oriented atmosphere.

The Griffith league comprises eight teams from Reston to Baltimore. Mr. Adams hopes to expand it to 10 in the near future, with at least one addition in the District.

To get more fans out to Bethesda's hardball temple, which has whitewashed walls, green fold-up seats like the ones at Camden Yards and a two-story red brick clubhouse with a press box and concession stand, the team runs such promotions as Orioles bird night and George Will book-signing night.

For the players, who must be under age 21, the park, the fans and the atmosphere are an unforgettable experience.

"The first night I was here, we had more people here than my whole time in college," said Mr. Batlle, who said 5 to 10 people showed up at Galveston Junior College games.

The Big Train averaged a little more than 500 fans a game this year, down from 750 or so last year, but about the same as two years ago.

Many of the fans are small children, who gather around after games for autographs of the players, college freshmen and sophomores who hope their next step in summer ball is the prestigious Cape Cod League.

Even there, though, no venue will be the same as Povich Field, many players and coaches said.

"I joke with the guys that you don't get treated like this in the pros until you get to the major leagues," Mr. Hacopian said.

"I love coming to play here," said Germantown Black Rox infielder Ben Keeton, from the College of William & Mary.

"It's the most fun I have had in this league. Seven o'clock games, hot dog smells and people cheering - that's what this game is all about."