One of the great areas of the baseball world is the exchange of ideas and practices.  The game can be very complex, but at the same time very simple.  For this reason, areas of focus at the highest levels of the game can also be areas the youngest players are also focusing.

In January and February of each year, across the country, baseball people gather at conventions and smaller, informal meetings tagged “Hot Stoves”.  The Hot Stove meetings are run in any number of ways, allowing the baseball community to gather, talk, and exchange ideas.  In the Charlotte area, eight years ago, a small group got together with the idea of creating a foundation that would stretch the Hot Stove idea for the greater good of baseball.  With that, Baseball For Life was created.

The founders were former Charlotte County Day School head baseball coach, Ed Walton and current St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt.  Coach Walton, a member of the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, won more than 500 games as a baseball coach with 9 North Carolina Independent School Championships.  Shildt is well known in the Charlotte area having played at Olympic High School and coached at West Charlotte and with the Charlotte 49ers at the Division 1 level.  Shildt also founded of the On Deck O’s program located in Pineville, NC.

Baseball For Life works with five areas of focus.  These areas are geared toward the growth of the game, both on the field and in the community.

1.  Player Clinics
2.  Coaching Clinics
3.  Field Improvements
4.  Equipment Drives
5.  Mentoring Programs

As a non-profit organization, established in 2010, Baseball For Life strives to enhance the lives of young people through mentoring programs that reinforce positive behavior and develops life skills through baseball. When asked about their current status, members of the Baseball For Lilfe (BFL) organization had this to say:

“BFL does not intend to become a group whose size becomes unmanageable for the good of those involved - we presently are working with 45 young men from grades 5 through 12.  As players “graduate” others will be sought after to fill in the spaces.

BFL is funded through word of mouth gifts and the support of local sports entities including the Charlotte Knights, Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte 49er Baseball and Basketball, Davidson Baseball and Winthrop Baseball who have generously provided tickets for our group to attend contests.  Charlotte Country Day and On Deck Academy have been supportive by providing their facilities to host functions.  Chic-Fil-A has been on line from the beginning providing meals for all of our events.

BFL is totally free of charge to the participants and remains so thanks to those who quietly support our mission.”

The month of January sees Baseball For Life turn its attention to their Hot Stove sessions with three meetings, beginning this week on Wednesday January 16^th.  These Hot Stove sessions are open to baseball coaches looking for more information and an open environment designed to create dialogue and an educational opportunity on the game. 

The schedule of speakers for this year’s meetings is very exciting.  On Wednesday January 16^th, first year head coach of the Davidson Wildcats, Rucker Taylor, will be speaking.  Coach Taylor played at Vanderbilt and was the Recruiting Coordinator during Davidson’s magical run to a Super Regional just a couple of years ago. 

Wednesday January 23^rd, Mike Shildt, the Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, and founder of Baseball For Life will speak.  Coach Shildt was named interim manager of the Cardinals this past summer and after an exciting second half, earned the full time job. 

The final Hot Stove Session will feature Philadelphia Phillies 3^rd Base Coach, Dusty Wathan.  Coach Wathan earned his invite to the Bigs after 10 seasons managing in the Phillies organization.  Coach Wathan will be speak on Wednesday January 30^th. 

Each of the Hot Stove sessions is scheduled to take place at 6:45pm in the Cramer Lecture Hall at Charlotte Country Day School.  Parking is suggested in the visitors lot, on the left end.  Cramer Hall is directly behind the Purdy Science building.  Baseball coaches are invited.  Current Charlotte Country Day School head coach Mike Hennessey helps to run these events for Baseball For Life and had this to say about the upcoming meetings:

“I am really excited about our lineup this year, and I am looking forward to a great turnout… Our format is pretty casual. Our speakers generally get us going on a topic they are passionate about, and the conversation rolls from there. It is a great opportunity to learn from some of the best baseball guys in the business, and share what you are doing in your own programs.”

Baseball For Life Hot Stove Meetings

Location: 
Charlotte Country Day School || Cramer Lecture Hall

Address:   
1440 Carmel Rd. Charlotte, NC 28226

Start Time: 
6:45pm each Wednesday

Dates & Speakers:
Wednesday January 16^th – Davidson Head Coach Rucker Taylor

Wednesday January 23^rd – St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt

Wednesday January 30^th – Philadelphia Phillies 3^rd Base Coach Dusty Wathan

Baseball For Life website:
http://www.baseballforlife.org/