Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
December 29, 2000, Washington Post

A Singular Accomplishment

Every December the sports magazines and newspapers are filled with lists of the year's great sports moments.

The year 2000 certainly had its memorable events. Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship. Cathy Freeman winning the Olympic gold medal in the 400 meters.

But my favorite sports moment never hit the papers, and it wasn't broadcast on TV.

My favorite sports moment is when Caroline Jones got a hit in a real baseball game.

For the past several springs, I have coached a kids' baseball team. This year I had a team of fourth- and fifth-graders -- seven boys and seven girls. Caroline was one of my players.

Caroline is a great kid. She's smart, she loves to read and she is an accomplished dancer. But when it comes to hitting a baseball, well . . . let's just say that Caroline prefers dancing to baseball.

You see, Caroline tends to swing under the ball, like she is scooping dirt with her bat. She has trouble timing the pitches, so she swings a little too early or too late. And like a lot of kids, Caroline is not comfortable watching a baseball flying toward her.

Put all those things together and you can see why, for the past couple of seasons, Caroline would strike out or get a walk at the plate.

But Caroline hung in there. She didn't quit. Caroline practiced her swing all spring. She moved the bat up a bit higher and worked on her timing and courage.

Then it happened.

Saturday, April 29, about 6 o'clock. Stoneybrook Field, Number 2. Top of the fourth inning against St. Peters. Caroline leading off.

And Caroline got a hit!

Not just a slow dribbler that happened to stay fair. No way. Caroline put the fat part of the bat right smack on the ball and drilled a line drive over the shortstop's head. I can see it all in my head as clear as any TV replay.

I bet that there are lots of Carolines playing sports out there. Kids for whom sports is not all glory and gold medals. No buzzer baskets, last-minute goals or game-saving catches.

Most kids' victories are much smaller. A personal best in the 50-meter free style. A pat on the back from a coach or a teammate for a job well done. One sweet single after a long string of strikeouts.

So when I think of the year 2000 in sports, I won't think of Tiger Woods standing on the 18th green at Pebble Beach or Cathy Freeman streaking around the track in Australia.

I'll think of Caroline. And I'll see her running -- no, not running, dancing -- dancing her way to first base.

FRED BOWEN is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost,
1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the
subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

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