Walking a mile to run bases in skinny jeans, bare feet, or metallic leggings may not sound like a description of the average high school sporting experience, but that was softball practice May 19 for kids from the Academic and Career Education Academy, or ACEA, an alternative school on M-20. ACEA’s softball players made a mile-long hike from campus to a South Homer Ball Park on Homer Road this past spring each time practice was held.
A place to play is not the only hurdle ACEA kids face to participate in the sport. This season they missed a state tournament for lack of finances to fuel the bus, said Coach Eric Kern, 33, of Sanford.
Co-ed softball is traditionally ACEA’s favorite sport, as anyone can play, said Coach Kern, who has worked at ACEA for six years. Off the softball field, he teaches social studies and physical education classes, but he enjoys coaching especially.
“(Coaching softball) gets me to see and work with the kids outside the classroom; to see a different aspect of them and build relationships with them,” said Kern. He also said softball serves as an incentive for kids to do well academically.
“Softball motivates me to keep my grades up,” agreed Lucas Skym, another ACEA senior, whose softball team aliases include “Big Poppy” or “Daddy.” Lucas has Army plans following high school graduation next year.
“(Softball) is fun; it keeps you active.” said Gregory “Scott” McRoberts, a senior at ACEA who will graduate this coming year and wants to become a mechanic. Other players echoed Scott’s description, citing it as “fun” and “interesting.”
“It’s pretty fulfilling,” Kern said, continuing with a laugh, “Especially when they win.”
A place to play is not the only hurdle ACEA kids face to participate in the sport. This season they missed a state tournament for lack of finances to fuel the bus, said Coach Eric Kern, 33, of Sanford.
Co-ed softball is traditionally ACEA’s favorite sport, as anyone can play, said Coach Kern, who has worked at ACEA for six years. Off the softball field, he teaches social studies and physical education classes, but he enjoys coaching especially.
“(Coaching softball) gets me to see and work with the kids outside the classroom; to see a different aspect of them and build relationships with them,” said Kern. He also said softball serves as an incentive for kids to do well academically.
“Softball motivates me to keep my grades up,” agreed Lucas Skym, another ACEA senior, whose softball team aliases include “Big Poppy” or “Daddy.” Lucas has Army plans following high school graduation next year.
“(Softball) is fun; it keeps you active.” said Gregory “Scott” McRoberts, a senior at ACEA who will graduate this coming year and wants to become a mechanic. Other players echoed Scott’s description, citing it as “fun” and “interesting.”
“It’s pretty fulfilling,” Kern said, continuing with a laugh, “Especially when they win.”
here's how editor Nathan Morgan ran it in the Verve section of the paper. (I like it a lot)
i love the photo of them on the bus!
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