Willow Glen, California Since 1992
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first pitch at S.F. Giants game 
Coach of the Year: Jim Stapleton, coach of the Willow Glen Little League Yankees, and his first baseman, Mark Wyllie, 10, recently had the opportunity to take part in a San Francisco Giants' game when Wyllie won a writing contest. By Amy Jenkins Mark Wyllie stepped up to the pitcher's mound to throw the first pitch of the San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics baseball game June 15, as thousands of fans at Pacific Bell Park sat and watched him. Wyllie's family and friends sat in the audience and saw his face on the Jumbo-Tron. Except for this 10-year-old, it was not a pitch for a major league baseball team or his Willow Glen Little League team, the Yankees, which had just won first place in the minors one division. It was a pitch to his Little League coach Jim Stapleton, whom Wyllie nominated as coach of the year. And because Stapleton won that recognition, he and Wyllie were invited to the San Francisco Giants' game to throw the ceremonial first pitch. Stapleton, 39, attributes his winning of the Santa Clara County coach of the year award to Wyllie's "good writing ability," which was exhibited in an essay written to nominate him. With two sons of his own, coaching is not new for Stapleton, a Willow Glen resident of seven years and an employee of the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Yankees, the team for which his 10-year-old son Jeffrey plays, is the seventh team he has coached. And although he has coached basketball teams and baseball teams with players of all ages, he most enjoys coaching young players like his 6-year-old son Christopher's farm baseball team, he says. In his essay, Wyllie described Stapleton with all of the characteristics that make a great coach. Wyllie wrote that Stapleton does not show favoritism, and gives all players an opportunity to play. Stapleton encourages his players and lets them know how they are doing on a consistent basis, Wyllie wrote. "Jim Stapleton is just a really good guy," says Wyllie, who has played on Little League teams for five years. "He is probably one of the best coaches I've had. I think it was cool that he looked up players from Yankee history with our numbers on the computer and told us about them. Lou Gehrig played first base and was number four like me." This was Stapleton's first year as manager, but his two assistant coaches, Gary Blickenstaff and Jerry Moreno, each had equal say in decisions for the team, Stapleton says. They helped Stapleton coach because of their experience - Blickenstaff has been a manager for Stapleton's son's teams and Stapleton has coached with Moreno before. Both coaches stepped in after assistant coach Lee Glover died in an automobile accident after the first game of the season. Wyllie says Stapleton was "nice" to offer to take Glover's son, Ian, to practices. "Gary and Jerry both communicate great with the kids," Stapleton says. "They are great coaches." Stapleton says his highest priority as a coach is to make sure the children have fun. Another purpose is to prepare players for the major leagues - the highest level of Little League. Having seen arguments among parents while playing Little League in San Jose as a child, Stapleton appreciates the support of Willow Glen Little League parents. "Parents throughout the league in Willow Glen participate and are dedicated and selfless," Stapleton says. "They are thoroughly concerned about kids having a good time. There are no 'problem parents'. It has been helpful to have the greatest set of parents." Eight other coaches joined Stapleton on the field June 15. One coach for eight different counties and a Special Olympics coach caught the pitch from their players and spent an hour on the field. Little League players were also thrilled to receive autographs from major league players and the manager of the San Francisco Giants, Dusty Baker. |
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