Bitter wind cuts through the blanket, a gust filling my mouth with dirt. Tiny hands pull at the warm pretzel as my daughter reaches for another bite. She cuddles close, unconcerned about the score.

“Is the game almost over, Mommy?” My daughter peers through a hooded sweatshirt.

“Almost - watch your brother, he is up next.”

Cleats dig into powdered dirt, signifying determination. It is the bottom of the sixth inning. The score is tied. Bases are loaded with two outs. Feeling the batter’s anxiety, I swallow hard trying to get a chunk of pretzel down. The coach sends a hand signal. The parent on the inside of me wants to guarantee a hit, to ensure that nothing about life is ever going to disappoint. But as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, I realize how powerless I am to help.

A crack breaks the silence, sending a blur of blue jerseys around the bases. My heart squeezes as I begin jumping up and down shouting like a maniac. I never thought I would become one of those parents! But pride gets swallowed with the warm dough.

As the crowd dwindles down, signs are folded and the snack bar lights switched off. Equipment is carried in as coaches send players off with a last word of encouragement. Behind the scenes, volunteers continue serving long after the game ends.

Taking a look at all that goes on behind the scenes; we find a Little League team with a big heart. Tony and Melody Lema supervise teams for Turlock National and National South. The example of selflessness they set spins dedication into motion, from the parent tying the laces of a cleat, to the umpire regretting that last call, all the way up to the league’s president. “We are the first team. If we can’t make it work then how can we expect the kids to?” said Melody. Everybody works to create a teachable environment for the kids.

Tony and Melody Lema have served together in leadership for the past thirty years, starting as little league parents themselves. Claiming ten grandchildren and three children, the Lema’s have dozens of children of the heart. “When our son turned nine, which was the youngest you could play at that time, we signed him up like any typical parent. Today the ages start at seven and go all the way up to sixteen. I was asked to run the concession stands for both Julien and Soderquest that year. It was before the league was split into four tiers,” said Melody. “Tony was asked to take care of uniforms and equipment. These days, we are seeing a second generation of kids coming back, and it has been a lot of fun watching our grandchildren get in there and play.”

Currently as the charter’s president, Tony works with passion to champion a strong board, making sure every aspect of the league is running smoothly. He likes to participate in the nuts and bolts and is a very hands-on. Where volunteers lack, Tony steps in, whether it means covering his living room with boxes of uniforms or closing the snack bar every night of the week. Tony is committed to excellence, working to make sure that nothing slips. He has covered a number of different positions through the years, lending to a wealth of wisdom and expertise. A highlight in Tony’s career was watching one of his players, Danny Reichert, become the number one pick for the Kansas City Royals!

Melody has served in many capacities as well, from secretary, to ladies auxiliary, to vice president. She has been a player agent for six years in a row. “I like being a player agent because it allows me to meet the needs of the kids. It is important that I make sure every kid who wants to play gets to play. I think busy kids stay out of trouble, and by providing a program like baseball we are doing something to help the community. I always tease and say that the kids are mine. I might not buy their school clothes, but I am willing to fight for them when the need is there.”

Melody’s communication magic keeps everyone on the same page. Her duties as player agent consist of: overseeing registration, assisting with player draft, making sure the rules are followed, addressing problems with players, handling parent complaints, filing paperwork, enforcing proper play time and keeping track of the attendance-for thirty three teams!

The Lema’s are supported by an outstanding board, which oversees the Turlock National and National South teams. The board consists of members who are voted in by parents who opt to become members upon registration. The positions of the board include: president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, field and safety, umpire and chief, coaches coordinator and player agent. The board meets year round, ensuring that fundraisers are in place so that no child who wants to play is ever turned down.

Something unique about this particular league is that they are a 100% volunteer program. With the focus being on a family oriented organization, a lot of times kids are recruited for positions such as announcers and assistant umpires. This really boosts a child’s self-confidence. The volunteer program has helped save $15,000 which is money that has been put toward facilities improvements.

“Something many parents don’t realize is that the registration fees only cover 35% of our budget, which runs close to $100,000 each year,” said Tony. “Our major fundraiser is the concession stand. Second, we will have the kids sell pizza coupons or cookie dough to help cover costs. Third, we rely on our team and sign sponsors. And last we try to get donations. The Lion’s Club has contributed to us before, allowing us to implement some improvements to the park.”

While Soderquist is a city park, all of the upkeep (aside from mowing the lawn) is the league’s responsibility. They work to keep the following in tip top shape: sprinklers, bleachers, fences, gates, locks and graffiti clean-up. “We have put $30,000 into the field in the past three years. New fencing was installed, a storage shed built and concrete poured. The board watches every penny that comes in and goes out, not wanting the kid’s money to be wasted. Our next project will be a new set of lights for the field,” said Tony.

State and regional conferences keep Turlock’s Little League up to par. “If we hear about an excellent idea from another league, we are not proud; we will implement it to bring improvement into our program. A lot of times we will go on-line and see what is working for another league and we will adapt it to ours,” said Melody. Eighteen leagues make up the San Bernardino district which falls under the western region, encompassing thirteen states.

The Little League rule book, created for teams all around the world, carries a sense of unity for young players and their parents. “Sometimes people will question some of the rules in the rule book, but they don’t realize that these rules apply to every little league player all over the world,” said Tony. Nineteen years ago, Tony and Melody shared a code of conduct that was working for Turlock with the CEO of Little League. A couple of years later, they found it in the rule book! Ever since, they like to call it the Turlock Rule. The rule basically states that if you are ejected from a game, you not allowed show up for following game either. “It encourages everybody, coaches, players, parents and umpires to play nice?or there will be consequences,” said Melody.

“Three years ago, we started with positive coach’s alliance, teaching the culture of not just learning about baseball but teaching how to incorporate the baseball philosophy into everyday life. Kids are encouraged to honor the game by honoring their teammates and being respectful to umpires and coaches. All of this has been put into place to bring up children to be productive adults,” said Melody. “As a result, all coaches who are considered have to be approved by the board with a question of whether or not this alliance will be honored. It reminds everybody to keep a proper perspective and to make this a positive experience for the kids instead of a negative one.”

With the troubled economy, rosters were expected to drop for 2009. Several other leagues had been impacted. But this year, the Turlock National and National South increased in players. What would explain this? Only a solid program could provide such results. “We are very proud of our program, but there is always room for improvement,” said Tony.

“On opening day of little league, which is the same day all around the world, I like to sit back and remember, that very same day everywhere in the world little kids are starting their first day of little league,” said Melody. “I consider it a win when my players come back the following year. When my coaches and managers have instilled in them a love for the game?then I know we have done something right.”

On behalf of every parent in the crowd, suffering through hard bleachers and windy evenings, we thank you! Above and beyond the mechanics of the game, you support our children in the game of life. We tip our ball caps to you Tony and Melody Lema, a Little League team with a big heart.