GOOD- BYE BAYB

In the Spring of 1995 my oldest son Spencer began his BAYB baseball career as a Redbird.  He was so excited to play his first game that he slept the night before with his new bat.  His younger brother Shafer began two years later at the age of 5 playing up on a 7U team.  He had an RBI that first year to win the Carl Martin Post-season tournament for the team.  And so, my career as baseball mom with BAYB had begun.  Now those boys are practically grown with my oldest son a Hospital Corpman in the US Navy and my youngest son a Junior at South Walton HS in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.  I am so incredibly proud of them and beleive that participating in youth sports partly made them what they are today.

Over the years I have grown so fond of BAYB that it is now my second home...or my first depending on the season and the hours that I worked that week. :)  I have been very honored to be a part of BAYB as a Board Member in 2004 when Todd Fulps and Jane Hahn ran the office ( I love Jane!!!) until 2007 when I came to work in the office with my good friend Bryon.  Everyone always thought I was married to someone at the ballpark, Bryon, David, Tom, etc.  so they loving became known as my Baseball Husbands.   Christina over at the football office and I were Baseball Wives since we shared a kinship in running programs that we love and hold dear to our hearts.  I will miss you all very much!!

It sadens my heart so much to now be leaving.  I only wish the ABSOLUTE BEST for each one of the families (my families) that play with us at BAYB.  This is truly a fantastic program!!!  Please continue your children in youth sports, hopefully BASEBALL. You will never regret the long hours at practice, driving frantically to get them to their games on time or the cost as when you look back as they get older and remember their first hit, their first home-run, their first defensive out...you will know that it was all so very worth it.  There is absolutely nothing better than to sit in the sun, keeping score while watching your son or daughter doing what they love!!

I want to say a HUGE thank you to my fellow board members, our umpires, and coaches that keep this program going day to day.  What you are doing is noble and I have so greatly appreciated you over the years.  I want to THANK the City of BA Parks, Phil, Brad, Joe, Cregg, and especially Claudia.  We could NOT have such an awesome park without you all and your hard efforts!!!

I have truly enjoyed working with Marty, Sam, Tony and Debbie over at BYB, with Tami and Jeff at All Star, with Mark, Steve and Clay at Super Series, with Greg, Woody, and "the Scotts" at AAYBA.  I love you all dearly from the bottom of my heart.

Keep in touch with me on Facebook (Stephanie Weese Thomas) and say a prayer that I can stand the Seattle rain!!!  I am an OKIE at heart and will be taking some of this fine RED BASEBALL Dirt with me on my trip.  I will be checking in often to make sure  everyone is running a tight ship, that no one is parking in the grass, and I will even miss the calls late at night after I just left the ballpark from a coach with a question, or a need. 

Thank you so much for everything!!!!!!  I really will miss all of you and BAYB.


From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU.

Stephanie Thomas
BAYB Manager