Eighteen Years, and Counting
New Lenox, IL - As part of a bar bet that the Gazette offered to members of the Gnaturals and its extended family members, Jack won the bet by being the only person to respond and chose an expose' on the 2004 Rebels In-House 9-10U Championship Braves. Since most of the 2004 Braves run was covered in a 2021 Anniversary issue for Kathy and Ken, we've dug out some of the stories on the championship year and have re-printed them along with a general account of the goings on. Staff photographer Jackson Von Eyeblack was kind enough to include some pictures from the 2003-04 archives for commentary. Here goes..............
June 29, 2004 was a bright sunny day with a seasonally cool high of 80 degrees in the Chicago area (Nobody remembers the temperature but thank goodness for the National Weather Service archives). Anyway, all of the teams who were supposed to be in the championship game were eliminated by the sub-.500 Bravos or the upstart Rays on the American League side of the ledger. The Rays would be no easy opponent but would be the less stacked team that would stand in the way of a Braves miracle. The game was not recorded so the fuzzy memories are all that is left behind. The game was close and each at bat was nerve racking. Memories of Jake Koz and Brian Smith pitching along with Man-child, Josh McGovern. A rally started by the pesty Jack and kept going by Kevin Ward, Koz, Josh, and Robbie Mikenis to take the lead late in the game. Outfield catches by Jumpin' Jack Flash and Koz fill the outer recesses but one play sticks out, the last out of the game. With two outs, a Ray hitter wafted a soft liner to "Stretch" McGovern at 1st base and there was no doubt that kid would squeeze it, and he did; jumping for joy. Not sure who would have been pitching in the last inning or why, as Stretch was a shutdown type guy but Ken probably used him earlier in the game to shut down the Rays. All these years later, it's hard to put into words but easy to describe, "seemed as we were going to win that game all along". That is the feeling that I had as the Braves had faced much tougher competition leading up to the big game and seemed like a formality (a toughly fought formality) that the Braves would win the game. The win kicked off a night of celebration as proud players and their parents took pictures with friends, aunts, uncles and grandparents as the sun set on the Tyler-Bentley Fields. Truly a special moment to be the only game being played with all eyes on one field.
Here is the excerpt from last years Gazette:
3. David sleighs Goliath
It’s 2004 and up to this point in Rebel in-house baseball, only the top four teams in each league make the playoffs. This particular year, Rebel brass are going to change things and allow every team to make the playoffs. Ken’s Braves team is talented but underperforming throughout the season. The bottom of the lineup are three easy outs and everybody has to play two or three innings so balls are finding the most untalented kids throughout the season at the most inopportune times. Ken’s boys enter the playoffs with a 4-10 record. The first game is a play-in match to have the honors to play the best team in the league, the Phillies. This is a story in its own right. The Braves win the play-in game against an equal opponent and are on to play the Phillies. It’s a threatening night and I have the car packed up and have the family heading to St. Louis after the game for a week of work and little vacation for the end of the baseball season. As the game begins, it starts raining and one-by one, every other game around us is called off due to the poor playing conditions. It’s raining harder and harder. Nobody would continue to play a game except the Phillies coaches (Mr. Sears as the Manager) who want to play this game because they want the quick win and be able to rest their stud pitchers so that after every other team finishes their rainouts, they’ll have the barrels loaded for the next opponent. Throughout the game, Philly coaches keep insisting that the game is played and Ken continues to respond ;“let’s play on”. Bad move on the Phillies part. Poor conditions equalized the talent and the Braves eeked out a dramatic narrow victory against the self-appointed champions who were reduced to crying babies, coaches included. St. Louis trip cancelled. PISS ON THE PHILLIES became the team mantra, which is still used to this day.
Two more wins later, (yes there were a lot of teams in the league back then. That’s when little kids played baseball in the summer and did not marry themselves to social media and the smart phone Hell, it hadn’t been invented yet.) the Braves are in the championship game. Ken had a contentious relationship with Rebel brass because all they cared about at the time was colluding to stack super-teams to win in-house championships and the travel teams who were comprised of many of these insiders. Anyway, the Braves go on to win the championship to the chagrin of every true red Rebel official. Ken’s upstart blue collar team handles its opponents one by one and are crowned that year’s 9/10 year-old champions. After the five playoff wins, the Braves are holding the championship trophy with a 9-10 record. Ken and his team of happy go lucky kids re-wrote the rulebook. Literally. The next year, the Rebel little league dad convention committee got together and decided once again that only the top few teams in each league would participate in the playoffs. They did not think it was fair that a team with a losing record should win the league championship. If we could only have a camera on Ken while reading this story of him beating the mighty Rebels fair and square. The next season with the help of his wife Kathy, Ken would bolt the Rebels to launch the New Lenox Hawks travel baseball team.
For starters: Dear Whomever Took This Photo, stand with the majority of the folks who are taking the picture and it will appear that the group will be looking directly into your camera. Signed, Mr. Commonsense. With that out of the way, pictured in the back row from left to right: Mr. Kevin Ward - Kevin seems to have the same distain for hats as I do. Kevin is a level-headed guy who is super responsible but had a playful streak. Great guy to have around the team. Jim Ferguson - The more he drinks, the better you can understand him. Mild mannered dad who I'm not sure how much he knows about baseball strategy but certainly would be the first guy to step in and help with anything. Bill McGovern - Got to the field at least an hour before the game and would pepper son Josh with ground balls and batting practice. Another guy who would help out with anything that needed to be done. Coach Ken- Sported the #29 in honor of Kevin Harvick, who replaced legendary driver Dale Earnhardt after his death. By far, the most involved person in the game.....including the kids. Wish we had some audio tape as he wore his heart on his sleeve and did not filter what was said. Braves practiced a lot mostly because we all had fun being around each other (for some parents it was a cheap babysitter). No other team was out-funned by this group thanks to Ken holding it all together with his dedication. Al Koz - The eyes of Ken when he was blinded by being caught up in the moment. If all of the other kids and coaches thought this was fun, I assure you that nobody had more fun than me. I unapologetically would fill in the spot of whoever didn't show up for practice or was batting and happily flagged down balls. Middle Row from left to right (standing) - Kevin Ward - A 9 year-old who didn't play like a 9 year-old. He was a catcher and third baseman who could hit with some pop. Nick Matuszewski - 10 year-old who played third and made the occasional play defensively and had a decent bat. His father, Randall, is a dentist and was the team's sponsor. Unbeknown to Ken, the sponsor gets the trophy, not the coach. I believe that Kathy popped for a replica trophy for Ken as a gift. If any of you readers use the fine services of Mr. Matuszewski and spot the trophy in the office, please inform the Gazette. Josh McGovern - Stretch as he was called. As memory serves, played on the 2003 team and was one of the two coaches choices to remain on the following year's team (2004). Josh was tall and country strong. Could zip the ball in for strikes as a pitcher and hit a ton and was good as any in the league on defense. Jake Kozlowski - The second of two coaches picks to play on the 2004 team from the year prior. Jake didn't throw hard but threw strikes and would often pitch an inning or two each game. Did not hit for power but hit for average. #2 hitter and part of the legendary Daily Double who also played the outfield. Front Row from left to right - Alex Cello - Pronounced Sello. Wish I had a dollar for every time he was called Chello. Mild mannered kid with super nice parents. Brent ??? - Wish I could remember his last name. 9 year old who was a nice kid and happy to be there. Jimmy Letsos - Some of you may remember Jimmy as a member of the Master Batters about five years ago. Some of you may remember his as the guy who told you that you needed new tires and that the warrantee just expired as he worked Discount Tires after his high school days. Jimmy played some 2B and hit the ball occasionally. Was fast and got along with everyone. Jumpin Jack Schoenhofen - The first half of the Daily Double and leadoff hitter. Filled with piss and vinegar even as a 10 year old. Jack was another guy who did not throw hard but threw for strikes and pitched on many occasions. Took walks and hit for average while playing the outfield. Did not recall Jack wearing Yoko Ono style glasses but do remember the eye black. Rebels did not have more than one field, if any, with lights so sun glare was a constant thing. Ryan Ferguson - Ryno got along with everyone and was a pleasure to be around. Robbie Mikenis - A smallish 9 year-old who had a BIG heart. Robbie was the other catcher and could get on base. He famously tracked down a ball in right field that was surely going to be a home in the Phillies game on the fenceless field and threw a perfect relay to 2nd and on to home to nail the guy at the plate and preserve a 5-4 victory over those hated bastards. Brian Smith - Another 9 year old who contributed to the team's success. Brian threw pretty good for his age and often pitched an inning or two and would contribute with his share of base hits.
Ken is pictured here getting his hair shaved by none other than Mrs. Koz herself, Gale. She was doing him a favor anyway, look at that hairline with a Maurice Lenell swirl on the front. Lauren may have been enjoying this a bit too much. Below is the story from a prior Gazette:
6. Time for a Haircut
Ken’s Bravos team is about to take on the Rays for the in-house championship (more on that in Top Ken moment #3) and declares days before the big game……”If we win against the Rays, I will get my hair shaven off at home plate”. Gale offers to Ken that she has the equipment to get the job done so he accepts with “You’re on baby!” One thing about Ken, he’s as honest as the day is long and is a man of his word. Ken’s charges go on to take the championship in a thriller. The team celebrates wildly , receives the championship trophy and soon after, Ken is sitting on a chair placed on top of home plate getting his head shaved in front of every player, coach and fan in the vicinity. There are photos to document that event and when they become available to the Gazette, they will be posted accordingly.
5. Victor Gonzales
This Top Ken is #5 but #1 when it comes to the humanitarian big picture. We’ll use Victor’s real name here because this is a heartwarming story of a kid who played a year on one of Coach Ken’s teams. Victor was not a good player but tried hard, was very coachable but did not really enjoy the sport of baseball. Ken worked with Vic throughout the year with limited success. As the year came and went, Victor only had a hit or two but started having fun with his teammates toward the end of the season. The following year, Victor ends up on an opposing team, the Cardinals, who are the opponent this day. Victor gets two or three hits against his former team and drives in a bunch of runs in the process, with the game ending up in a close decision. Normally, I’d recall something simple like who won the game but not here…mainly because of what happened next. In the lineup to shake the opponents hands, Victor is elated because he’s played well and did so in front of his former coach. Vic gets to Ken, who is the last in line being the manager, and they shake hands. Ken says something to the effect of “Victor my man. Great job today!”. Victor is smiling and says; “Thank you”. He goes on to say; “Last year I was going to quit baseball but I had so much fun playing with you and learned so much that I thought I’d give it another shot. Thank you for what you did for me”. That’s what it’s all about friends. If you can reach one kid, it makes it all worthwhile. Ken has reached many kids and adults in a big way. On behalf of Victor and everyone you’ve touched, thank you Ken!
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