Small Belarusian town has become a baseball center of the country
Players of the baseball team “Logyshynski vovky” from Logyshyn town have their own joke. “Once famous American baseball player Derek Jeter was asked, how it is to play in the best baseball team in the world. He answered: “I don`t know. I have never played in “Logyshynski vovky” club.
Derek Jeter is an outstanding sportsman. Although he is not the one who can play in the team from Logyshyn town. As the members of this baseball club are drivers, veterinarians, rescuers, students and pupils. It`s difficult to say, why residents of such small town decided on the development of baseball.
“Logyshynski vovky” is a team, which shouldn`t exist. Which baseball team may be in town, with the popularity less than 2 000 residents? Back in 2004, there was no baseball field, no equipment and coach. Even rules of this game were unknown for them. Locals were advised to develop athletics. Baseball was out of the question. But the director of sport school Anatoliy Lobachevskyi didn`t give up. He did his best in order to make his plan a reality. Mr. Anatoliy found all the necessary equipment, good coach, rebuilded the field and assembled a team.
“Logyshynski vovky” are not the champions. Their greatest achievement is the second place on the Belarusian championship in 2008. Now they are on the third place among four teams. Anyway, the biggest pride for the team is its players. The boys were taken off the street and got the chance for a new life.
In 2004 in Belarussian town Logyshyn a sport school was opened. It was made by Anatoly Lobachevskyy, the math teacher from local school. In the village nearby, there was a teacher of PT Stanislav Shelestiukovych. In the past he was the player of university baseball team. He was offered to take a position as a coach. At first Stanislav Shelestiukovych hesitated for a long time. He didn’t believe in the idea to develop baseball in small town. Over time, however, he saw, that team really believed in the success of baseball and was not going to give up. So step-by-step he began to help them with trainings. It`s well-known that baseball is not so simple, as one may think. It`s not enough just to know the rules of the game.
Coach Stanislav Shelestiukovych takes an active part during the trainings. Even now he plays on the position of central outfielder. From the very beginning he shared with his team all the failures and the happiest moments of wins.
Gradually “Logyshynski vovky” became more confident. Although the championship was still far off, they were worthy opponents for teams from Brest and Minsk. Moreover, sportsmen have a win over the youth national team from Australia, although competitors were rather strong. Nobody expected to see the loss of Australian team (10-4).
This autumn 20 children joined sport school. Perhaps, in time some of them will become members of the primary “Logyshynski vovky” team. Looking at his trainees, Mr. Anatoly feels absolutely happy.