This following story came to me today in my travels when I saw this baseball. It reminded me of a girl that I went to school with at Horatio Seymour. Her name was Verna Harris. I still hope she is with us today.
#Story and #photo by #FrankGCaruso
It was the summer of 1974 in the small town of Cooperstown, there lived a young girl named Verna. Verna was an exceptional baseball player with a passion for the game that surpassed all her peers. She had dedicated countless hours to honing her skills, always striving to be the best little league hitter in the town.
Every day, Verna would practice at the local baseball field, swinging her bat with precision and focus. Her dedication paid off, as she became renowned for her incredible hitting ability. People would come from neighboring towns just to watch her play, marveling at her talent.
As the seasons changed, Verna's team, the Cooperstown Hitters, entered the final game of the Little League championship. They were up against their arch-rivals, the Oneonta Lightnings. The stakes were high, and the tension in the air was palpable.
It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Cooperstown Hitters were trailing by one run. The bases were loaded, and Verna was up to bat. The pressure was immense, but Verna's determination never wavered. She knew this was her moment to shine.
The pitcher wound up, and with a mighty swing, Verna connected with the ball. It soared through the air, higher and higher until it seemed to touch the heavens themselves. The spectators held their breath as they watched the ball sail towards the distant pine trees that bordered the outfield.
To everyone's amazement, the ball disappeared among the branches, nestling itself high up in the tallest pine tree. The crowd erupted into a mix of awe and disbelief. Verna had hit her last ball into a pine tree—a feat that no one had ever accomplished before.
The umpire called the play a home run, as the rules stated that any ball stuck in a tree beyond the outfield was considered a hit out of the park. The Cooperstown Hitters won the game, and Verna was hailed as the greatest little league hitter in the history of Cooperstown.
News of Verna's remarkable achievement spread like wildfire. Local newspapers featured her story, and soon, she became a symbol of determination and triumph in the face of adversity. Verna's name was spoken with reverence by aspiring young athletes, and she became an inspiration to children all over the town.
Years later, as Verna grew up and pursued her dreams of being a doctor, she never forgot her roots in Cooperstown. She would return to her hometown, where a monument was erected in honor of her legendary home run. The plaque read, "Verna, the Greatest Little League Hitter, who defied the odds and reached for the sky."
Verna's story continued to inspire generations, reminding them that sometimes, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved through unwavering determination, passion, and a little bit of luck. And every time a ball got lost in the branches of a pine tree, children would smile, knowing that Verna's spirit and love for the game lived on. To this very day, Verna’s ball has never been found, some say it went to heaven.
#CooperstownNewYork #baseball #LittleLeague #girlsLittleLeague #homerun
