Saratoga News
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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Left-hander Billy Inserra is an all-star baseball player in the Saratoga Little League. He has no fingers on his right hand, but that hasn't kept him from playing the game he loves.
Saratoga Little Leaguer's story is one of inspiration
By Shannon Burkey
When Billy Inserra talks about baseball, his face lights up.
"It's the most exciting game and the most fun to play," he said.
The game has always come naturally to the 9-year-old, who plays pitcher, shortstop and outfielder for his Saratoga Little League team, the Yankees.
Watching him stand on the mound closing out a game or catching a fly ball in left field, Billy looks just like every other kid out there. And while his spirit and determination match his teammates', there is one difference that makes the way Billy plays the game extraordinary.
Billy was born with amniotic band syndrome, a congenital birth defect that kept the fingers on his right hand from developing properly in the womb. Having no fingers on one hand, though, has done nothing to stop him from playing the game he has grown up loving.
"I always knew I could play; it just came simple to me," Billy said. "It's easy to hit; I just hold the bat and swing. Fielding maybe takes me half a second more than everyone else, but that's it."
Over the years he has perfected his own one-handed method when it comes to pitching, fielding and throwing, much like that of one of his heroes, Jim Abbott. Abbott pitched in the major leagues for nine years despite being born with no right hand.
Because of their similarities, Abbott is someone Billy said he looks up to. A few years ago, after Billy and his parents sent a letter to Abbott, Billy received a letter of encouragement and a signed baseball from the ballplayer.
"I was so happy and excited. I couldn't believe he wrote to me," Billy said.
Loving baseball seems only natural for Billy, whose father also loves the game and played catch with him almost on a daily basis. His father is also one of his favorite coaches on his Little League team, he said with a smile.
"He started playing as early as he could," said Laura Inserra, Billy's mother. "It comes easily to him."
But sports in general seem to be like second nature to Billy, who also plays basketball, tennis, soccer and plans to play flag football in the fall.
It's baseball, though, that has always remained his favorite sport, and he said he especially likes being a pitcher.
"When you're the pitcher, it feels like you're in the middle of everything, and I like that," he said.
Inserra said she didn't want to push Billy into sports when he was small, but if he wanted to do it she just wanted to make sure he had fun.
When he talks about his favorite player, Ichiro Suzuki, or his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, or his experience playing on his first all-star team this year, it's evident that he truly enjoys the game--but he's excelled at it, too.
During the regular season playing for the Yankees, Billy finished with one of the best pitching records in the Saratoga Little League AA division, throwing 25 innings with 49 strikeouts.
His performance was good enough to land him a spot on the 9-year-old all-star team this past season.
"Playing for the all-star team was really fun. It feels like you've really accomplished something," he said.
His team went on to win the District 12 9-year-old championship.
Colin Morales, coach of the 9-year-old all-star team, said he put Billy in some tough situations as the closer during the all-star games but was never worried because Billy has incredible focus and determination and is mentally tough.
"He's an amazing kid--he's like no other kid I've ever seen," Morales said. "Nothing really flusters him."
Morales said when he looks at Billy he sees no difference between him and any of the other kids playing. He bats, hits and pitches just like anyone else on the team.
"He's one of those kids you want on your team. For me, I want the kids who are going to work the hardest and give it their all every time they come out," Morales said. "Billy fits that perfectly."
When Inserra thinks of all Billy has accomplished, she said her prayers have been answered. Her son is healthy, happy and playing a game he loves--he's not letting his difference get in the way.
"Some parents are so worried about their kids making the team, but I sit there and think it doesn't matter if he makes the team or not, I'm just fine knowing he'll do fine whatever he does. And if he makes the team or doesn't make the team, I know it has nothing to do with his hand."
With baseball season over, Billy has just a little time to reflect on his championship season before gearing up for his first season playing flag football. But even though he loves other sports, baseball is the one running through his blood and the one he said he would like to continue playing for as long as he is good enough.
"Billy is a really cool role model for anyone who wants to do something but thinks they can't," Inserra said. "He has proven to me that when you have a dream and the passion to follow it, there is no obstacle that can stop you."
