Bob Dekoning Interview

Doug and family

I was lucky enough to be able to interview Doug Dekoning's father, Bob Dekoning! Thank you Bob.. It is so nice to hear from a parent of a ball player who has worked his way through youth baseball so successfully.

LoudMom:  What sacrifices have you had to make for Doug's baseball career?

Bob:  Were do I start, as a single parent my sacrifices may be different compared to a 2 parent family with 2 incomes. many missed family get together,working a part time job from late Spring through late Fall to make/ save money for the upcoming season ,and all the trips and expenses connected to it. Passing on overtime to travel. Driving all over 8-10 or 12 hour trips each way, and getting very little rest, and returning home ,usually very late Sunday nights or early Monday mornings, and going into work tired. Passing on buying personal gifts for myself as I needed to save for Doug's need for equipment and travel expenses. Aluminum bats and top quality gloves are not cheap. Bats only last one season. There is a sample of my sacrifices for Doug and I am so glad that I did all those sacrifices and more. They were well worth it and then some !! 

LoudMom:  What influence did you have in Doug's college choice?

Bob:  This is the way that went down. Doug was 11 years old and he started batting lesson's at Mike Hegan's and Scott Doffek was assigned to be his coach. Doug had great success with Scotts hitting style and approach and we just kept it up for several more years. When it came to High School and his Junior season we had made up our minds that if UWM gave Doug a Scholarship we were going there. Scotty made Doug the hitter he is and we felt it only right to give him 1st choice at reaping the rewards of all his hard work into Doug. So,the choice was easy,even though there were a few Colleges from the South that had showed some interest in Doug, UWM would be were Doug was going. Was the right thing to do then and still is the right thing to do today.

LoudMom:  What is your favorite youth baseball memory of your son? 

Bob:  When Doug was 7 years old he played on a team that was comprised of 6 kids from Menomonee Falls and 6 from Whitnal. They went to the championship game and won it all and a team trophy that was 6 feet tall. The moment that stood out was, back then, Doug was a pitcher and a good one. He pitched a lot that weekend and he was tired and sore but the coach asked him if he had one more inning in him to close the game and bring home the championship. He did a great job and we won the game,it was so awesome !! I have pictures of that game in the rec room that will be up as long as I am alive.

LoudMom:  Do you have any advice for other baseball parents? 

Bob: Make sure it is your son or daughters dream to play ball and not yours. If it is there's, then be there for them in good or bad times. It is easy to be a fan when things are going good but it shows the kids that your love and commitment to them is not conditional on winning only. Take the time to invest in them no matter what that is that they enjoy. You may not like what they like but, it is there time, not yours. Take the time to smell the roses and enjoy your kids and family. There is more to life than making money and working your way up the ladder of success. These moments in time are special and they come and go so quickly that if your not careful you just might miss them. I am so glad with all that I sacrificed and gave up for Doug that given a second chance I would do it all over again. He is a special kind of rose and I am so glad I took the time to smell it !! 

 

Dixie Baseball

Dixie Youth Baseball was organized in the state of South Carolina in 1955. The name of the program was Little Boys Baseball. In 1962 the name was changed to Dixie Youth Baseball.

Dixie Youth Baseball has leagues in eleven states across the south. They have five divisions of play.

A is t-ball for ages 6 and under and uses 50' baselines.

AA  is ages 8 and under and is played differently in different leagues.  Some leagues have pitching machines while others have coach pitch. They use 60' base paths and 46' from the pitching rubber to home plate.

AAA uses the same field dimensions and is for ages 10 and under.

For the 12 and under age group they have 2 divisions.

- The Majors Division which uses the dimensions of the lower divisions.

- "O" zone division which has 70' base paths and 50' from rubber to the plate. This level has open bases (you can lead off and steal), and regular baseball rules.

Dixie Boys Baseball is for ages 13 and 14, with an 80' base path and 54" pitching distance.

Dixie Majors uses a 90" base path and a pitching distance of 60'.  They are for ages 15-19. At the end of local league play a Pre-Majors team, ages 15 and 16, may be selected for tournament play.

 

Their intent was to develop a program which would give local leagues more control in deciding how their leagues are run. There are basic fundamental rules each league must follow, but customs will vary and leagues may establish policies for the operation of their local program.