Attacks on Centralia Baseball Coach Unjustified
This is in response to the “High School Hurler Throws Too Many Pitches” letter (page Main 8, May 10).
So let me get this straight – a guy with no current connection to Centralia Tiger baseball follows the team for a “few” weeks and overhears something second-hand in the stands and takes exception with how our coaching staff handles pitchers?
Normally, this would be of little concern to me and would not warrant a response. Greg Isaacson is certainly entitled to whatever uniformed opinions he would like. Criticism, complaints and second-guessing coaches seems to be standard practice these days. But when you call into question the character and intentions of good people trying to do things you have gone too far.
It is not my intention to debate the value and use of pitch counts with Mr. Isaacson. Our staff of eight (seven of which are former Tigers and have more than 50 years of combined coaching experience) is very aware of pitch counts and they are used as one of many indications and variables for us (along with the athlete) when to remove or end a pitcher’s day.
A great deal more goes into our decision-making and our player’s preparation than just the number of pitches thrown. The last thing anyone on our staff wants is to see one of our kids hurt!
What I take great offense to is the careless conclusion from Isaacson that our head coach only cares about winning and not the kids. Rex Ashmore and I have been friends for most of our lives. We have coached together in Adna and now Centralia for nearly 20 years. He coached my own son as well.
The care and love he has for the kids and the game of baseball is, and always has been, the primary motivation for coaching. Our entire coaching staff spends countless hours away from their families, gives up summers, helps raise money for the program, etc.
We do it all because we care deeply about the kids, Tiger baseball and the city of Centralia.
For Isaacson to be allowed to demean the character and intentions of quality people like Rex and Kim Ashmore (who do more for our program, school and city than anyone I know) and our athletic director Scott Chamberlain is completely unwarranted, without merit and about as ignorant as you can get.
Bryan Zurfluh
assistant coach
Centralia High School baseball
Cat Attacker Must Have Psychological Disorder
The front-page article in the Chronicle Thursday, May 19, “Police Note Errors in Investigation of Cat’s Death” is much more serious than one would think.
First, one would think the police department would know not to discard evidence. This was an animal, and in this case, just as important as a human being. Why? The juvenile(s) involved in this case appear to have psychological issues.
The first report was a juvenile committed the gruesome acts. In this case, the child most likely appears to have a psychological disorder. If a child kills, mutilates or tortures an animal, he or she often goes on to harm other humans physically. If you think the animal rights advocates are up in arms over this incident, how much more would the community be involved if this torture was a child?
It happens all too often. Schools today call it “bullying.” The abuse and torture of animals by juvenile(s) is much more serious than the press or police department in this case acknowledge.
Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Nelson’s hands are tied in this case, but I would hope there would be some way to bring this case forward with the juvenile(s) involved name(s) on a watch list, because no doubt the police will be dealing with them again. The next time could be the serious injury or death of a child.
As for the “mistake” in the way the case was handled, Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen said he believes the department is prepared to handle any future case should one occur. My concern is that the staff is educated by a psychologist on staff who knows the seriousness of this crime and possible mental disorders. If you aren’t fearful it could happen to a child or person.
Clarice L. Griffith
retired junior high school counselor
Salkum
McDevitt Knows How to Get Things Done
David McDevitt, a candidate for Congress from the 3rd Congressional District, is a smart, hard-working guy that can get things done. David is a high level computer programmer — that requires him to be someone who pays attention to detail.
His first paying job was as a delivery route boy for a newspaper. He was a problem solver from the beginning, which he showed when he got all of the people on his route to pre-pay three months in advance so they didn’t lose their subscription. Now every newspaper does that.
Attention to detail and problem solving are two things we need from our government. Not the politics of no. Not by continuing to siphon money from the middle class for the benefit of the billionaires who buy the Tea Party elections. Government shouldn’t be bought. That is why I endorse McDevitt. David is a progressive Democrat who supports Bernie Sanders for president.
McDevitt has put in more time in the last six months to understanding and working to solve problems in the Washington 3rd Congressional District than Jaime Herrera Beutler has in the six years since she was first elected.
It’s obvious that things are not working well in Washington. It’s in the news every day. Sending smart, hard-working people to Washington sounds like a refreshing change.
As Justin Trudeau said, “We can do more for the people who need it by doing less for the people who don’t.” We can do this together. Faster together. Farther together. Let’s send McDevitt to Washington because he works for all of us.
Thomas Gibson
Camas
