Mark Crowe ENC 1101 Prof.

Martinez 4/3/13

Timber Creek High School Junior Varsity Baseball

The Timber Creek baseball program prides itself on building champions. When you step on campus and make your way over to the baseball field, you see two enormous banners (one stands like a billboard out in left-center field, and another that seemingly hovers above the opposing teams dugout) that both proudly display their 2010 and 2012 8A State semifinal appearances, each with the phrase Building Champions Here under pictures of the team celebrating. The banners, the freshly manicured grass, the straight-edged lines of chalk, and the sharp contrasting black and purple uniforms leave an impression of superiority to any opposing team that steps foot onto the field; an aura of intimidation. Even the players themselves, referred to as The Wolves by some of the parents (the wolf is the mascot of Timber Creek, and remains a fitting nickname for such a young, ravenous group of young baseball players), look and act in similar ways that make a newcomer like me believe that they truly are a team of unity, a pack. Before the start of the game against rival University High School, the Timber Creek Junior Varsity players play catch in left field to get their arms loose. The Head Coach Tim Beaman and assistant coach Perry Balasis pace along the foul line as they watch their players throw and catch. The white specs representing baseballs can be seen darting from player to player as I watch from the stands behind home plate. Each pair of players playing catch seems to play in a differing attitude. Some appear fierce, while others appear loose and relaxed. The

A DISCOURSE COMMUNITY:

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mindsets may differ, but only one thing connects them all: Its almost Game Time. Beaman looks at his watch, and motions for the team to take infield for a last stretch of practicing before the first pitch. Some Wolves scatters to their specialized positions with obedience, while other stand behind the third base line as they watch Beaman hit groundballs to every position. Once fielded, the player will seamlessly rifle a throw to his teammate with a resounding pop of the mitt. These simple drills are repeated to near perfection until Beaman has seen enough. The two umpires, clothed in their unmistakable blue uniforms, stroll onto the field, and call for a coaches meeting at home plate. During the meeting, the team gathers into huddle, almost as if they are waiting for their leader to return from his duty. Once the coaches meeting at the plate is finished, Beaman strolls over to the huddle, says a few words of encouragement, and finally a muffled voice from the center of the huddle yells Wolves on three, Wolves on three, one-two-three WOLVES!, and the starters on the field sprint out to their positions, and the game begins.

METHODS & BACKGROUND

I traveled back to my alma mater, Timber Creek High School, to discover how the Junior Varsity baseball program operates as a discourse community. Discourse communities, according to Professor John Swales, are "groups that have goals or purposes, and use communication to achieve these goals". The main goals of a Junior Varsity team in any sport involve more individual goals. Players are all freshmen and sophomores, and are all working hard to get better and make Varsity next year. While the Wolves JV baseball team possesses many individual egos with differing attitudes and goals, they also seem to uphold the culture of winning for Timber Creek baseball by working hard to become one team and not just a group of individuals; they share a common goal. Discourse communities also share a quality, Swales explains, called

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lexis. Lexis is the specific vocabulary used by a group; the language used in the dugout and on the field by Timber Creek baseball carries different meaning and tone to how every day words we use. In addition to the communitys lexis, I also observed the hierarchy of power and how authority appears in discourse communities, as described by Dr. Tony Mirabelli of the University of California-Berkley in his research. I was able to gather all my observations by attending one baseball game, which lasts approximately two hours, while getting to the field about an hour early to watch both teams practice and warm up before first pitch. I sat in the stands behind the plate and to the left, closer to the Timber Creek dugout, and began my analysis of how the players and coaches interacted.

OBSERVATIONS & ANALYSIS

In order to join this discourse community (specifically a secondary discourse, as described by Professor James Paul Gee, involving organizations, community groups, schools, etc. that expand beyond family and immediate kin), you first must be a talented baseball player. Earlier in the spring semester at Timber Creek, JV baseball held a four day long tryout, with cuts after the second, third and fourth day based on performance in certain drills and situations. Not only does the individual have to perform well, but they must be a competent individual, and be trusted to represent Timber Creek baseball well in the classroom and off the field as well. The tryouts began with about 35 attendees, and by the fourth day, the team had been formed with the final 18 players standing. Once a player has made the team, much work and practice is put in the following weeks before the first baseball game of the season, in order to actually play during the games and feel like heavy contributor toward the teams goal of winning and an individuals goal of getting noticed by the Varsity coach.

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The Head Coach of the JV baseball team possesses the most control over his players. His authority is well respected by all the players, parents, and assistant coaches as well. Starting Left Fielder Bryce Balasis said when talking about his Head Coach, I like that he is serious and wants everything to be perfect like every good coach does. And we definitely respect him. While watching the game, at various points when Beaman would speak either from the coachs box or in the dugout, the surrounding players would go silent and listen to anything he had to say. From personal experience, and Im sure many others can attest to, gaining complete respect of 14 and 15 year old teenagers is an extremely difficult task, and Beaman earns all of it from everyone. Without a strong and well-respected leader, winning any game in any competitive sport is difficult. Respected leadership and authority allows guidance and the ability to teach adaptation and fundamentals to eager learners, and can help reach the goal of winning and transforming young men to become better players and people. Here we go, kid, lets go kid! Here we go now! These small encouragements can be heard ringing from the dugout the entire two hour game. This is the teams lexis. When I asked one of the teams pitchers (and my brother), Eric Crowe, about some of the other phrases and baseball lingo that is used on the field, he mentioned an inside joke that only players on the team would understand. We have a Hispanic player on our team and he likes to use his lingo around us, so we use his lingo whenever he gets a hit or makes a good play on the field. Balasis went along with this sentiment, One of the Hispanic players on our team uses the word El a lot, so we like to joke around and add El to any word we say. These jokes seem to build team unity, and help everyone get along and trust each other. Baseball players will also use specific terms to get a point or specific encouragement across quickly to another player, and also use specific word and number combinations that represent different formations for the players in the field or

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different pitches that the pitcher should throw to get a batter out. At one point during the game, the catcher called time out, stood in front of the plate, and did several various gestures with his hands, touching his shoulder, forehead, arm, chest, or chin, which was a designated play for the infield to see. The lexis of this discourse community involves being on the inside, and building relationships with your fellow teammates. It can also be very complex and intricate regarding the play calling and cheering, and it takes not only making the team to understand it, but many days of coaching and practicing to encode it into your brain.

CONCLUSION
The Timber Creek JV baseball program is a structured and respected baseball program by schools around the district. The culture and atmosphere make newcomers believe that when they attend a Timber Creek baseball game, that they will be seeing great baseball, and most likely a Wolves win. When I watched the team play, there was a sense of seriousness and urgency to play well and compete, but also fun and relaxed atmosphere based on the fluidity of communication on the field and in the dugout. In my opinion, I believe the main proprietor for the relaxed, yet competitive atmosphere originates at the top, with the Head Coach. Both players that were interviewed described a very competitive and serious atmosphere when practicing and playing, but there is also a feeling of relaxation and the ability for a player to be themselves and enjoy their time playing the game of baseball. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the team perform and interact with their fellow teammates and coaches. Its a group that enjoys competition and takes it seriously, but also allows themselves to have fun playing Americas pastime. The ultimate goal may be to win the game, but what Coach Beaman and surrounding parents and

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supporters of Timber Creek baseball are trying to build not only winners, but men with great character.

INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEW #1

Me: How do you feel making the Timber Creek JV baseball team has helped you become a better player and teammate? Balasis: I think making the baseball team has given me confidence and to work harder to be a better player, and make friends as well as be a good teammate. Me: What do you like about the Head Coach, and do you feel like the team likes and respects him as a coach? Balasis: I like that he is serious and wants everything to be perfect like every good coach does. And we definitely respect him. Me: Is the atmosphere at practices and game more uptight or relaxed? Balasis: It is more uptight because we work hard to be a better team. Me: Most baseball teams have their own style of speaking, inside jokes, and certain phrases they like to use. What are some of the phrases that the team uses frequently that only players on the team would truly understand? Balasis: One of the Hispanic players on our team uses the word El a lot, so we like to joke around and add El to any word we say.

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Me: From your experiences on the JV baseball team this year, have you enjoyed your time playing baseball for the high school, and do you consider playing again next year? Balasis: Yes, and I plan on playing every year in high school.
INTERVIEW #2

Me: How do you feel making the Timber Creek JV baseball team has helped you become a better player and teammate? E. Crowe: I feel it has helped me learn to trust the people around me and to cheer other people on our team on because we all understand that to win games, we need to play as a team. Me: What do you like about the Head Coach, and do you feel like the team likes and respects him as a coach? E. Crowe: I like the coach because he gives us a more advanced learning experience being that he played in college. It also causes the rest of the team to respect him more and listen to what he has to say in detail to become a better baseball player and teammate. Me: Is the atmosphere at practices and game more uptight or relaxed? E. Crowe: It is a mix because we work to become a better team and we have to fight for chances to play, but we are all good friends and enjoy our time together. Me: Most baseball teams have their own style of speaking, inside jokes, and certain phrases they like to use. What are some of the phrases that the team uses frequently that only players on the team would truly understand?

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E. Crowe: We have a Hispanic player on our team and he likes to use his lingo around us, so we use his lingo whenever he gets a hit or makes a good play on the field. Me: From your experiences on the JV baseball team this year, have you enjoyed your time playing baseball for the high school, and do you consider playing again next year? E. Crowe: Yes, I have enjoyed every minute of it and I have been very blessed to have the coaches and players I have on my team. I plan on playing every year in high school if all goes well.

DOCUMENTS
https://www.ocps.net/lc/east/htc/athletics/Pages/default.aspx

The first link is used by all athletes at Timber Creek in order to stay eligible to participate in team activities. Athletes are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible. http://www.timbercreekhsbaseball.com/teams/default.asp?u=TCBASEBALL&t=c&s=baseball& p=bboard The second link is the Timber Creek baseball websites Bulletin Board, where all important information regarding activities, volunteering, and other highlights about Timber Creek baseball is posted. Players and parents are expected to check this page periodically to stay updated.

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WORKS CITED
Balasis, Bryce. Personal Interview. 29 March. 2013. Crowe, Eric. Personal Interview. 30 March. 2013. Gee, James Paul. Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction Wardle and Downs 485486 Mirabelli, Tony. Learning to Serve: The Language and Literacy of Food Service Workers. Wardle and Downs 543-546 Swales, John. The Concept of Discourse Community. Wardle and Downs 470-473 Wardle, Elizabeth, and Doug Downs. Writing about Writing: A College Reader. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. Print.