Student of the game

Is it irony or is it paradox that the member of the Deer Park High School baseball team who understands the most about the game probably played the least number of innings this spring?

Either way, while Stag senior Chris Williams may have been short of innings, he definitely isn’t short-changed when it comes to the amount of respect he earned during his baseball career at Deer Park.

Williams didn’t play on the varsity until his senior year, and played in only three games this past season. But during four years in the program, he never missed a practice, and the day after the 2006 season ended, he asked coach Shawn Henry if he could come back next year to help coach.

“Chris knows the game as well as anyone in the program,” said Henry. “If he’d had the baseball talent to go with his know-how and his desire, he’d be going on to play college baseball. He’s got a love for the game that you don’t see that often, even in guys with more talent.

“I hope Chris follows through on his plans to teach and coach, because I think he’ll be a good one. There was never a day he didn’t want to learn more about the game. Even at the end of his senior year, he was asking questions, wanting to take in as much as he could.

“Sometimes, better athletes don’t get it, but Chris did. He had the drive, and he’s a natural leader. He’s a special talent in his own way and a role model for our younger kids.”

Williams also played football at Deer Park, but his real love is baseball.

“I couldn’t think of anything more fun to do,” he said, “even when I wasn’t playing. I consider myself a student of the game – studying different players, watching a pitcher’s move, trying to pick up on everything, big or small, to help my team.

“Baseball’s given me the resolve never to quit. If I start something, I need to finish it. People notice what I do and that I helped the team whether I was playing or not. It’s nice to get noticed for the right reasons.”