Hardship Strikes Bandits Again
Again within a week Bandits are struck with hardship. Tom Marcio has passed away today, Jan.25th. Tom is the father of long time town ball player and dear friend Steve Marcio and the grandfather of Bandits players Tyler Marcio and Tommy Marcio. Tom was also a difference maker in the game of baseball serving in many different ways. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Marcio family at this difficult time.
Vistation: Sat. Jan. 29th 3 to 7 pm at
Grandstrand Funeral Home
11900 Lake Lane North
Lindstrom, MN 55045
(651.257.4000)
Funeral: Sun. Jan. 30th 3:00 pm
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
28005 Old Towne Road
Chisago City, MN 55012
(651.257.2713)
The East Bethel Bandits lose biggest fan.
Today the Bandits lost a man who changed and supported baseball his whole life yet never played a single game.
Harlan Jelmberg, father of coach Dallas Jelmberg and grandfather of player Steve Jelmberg, passed away after struggling with breathing problems for the last few years. It all started when this guy was only about six years old playing catch in the yard with his dad, no differently than how many of us get our start in the game.
He was my coach when I played my first real game in 3rd grade. That was his first and last year in coaching as he took a foul tip to the ribs at practice one day cracking two of them. After that he decided maybe he would just come and watch me play and that he did. In the next fifteen years he did not miss one single game - home or away - from little league to town ball. Being mainly a pitcher growing up, no matter where the game was being played or what the situation was my dad was only one glance to the stands away. He was easy to find. He was the guy who always had a piece of paper and a pencil in his hand, writing down the results of every pitch I think I ever threw. He would write down all the balls, strikes, foul balls, hits, walks and strikeouts and when the game was over he would fold up his piece of paper and put it in his wallet, never making comments either good or bad during the season. Then, at seasons end, he would add them all up, show me the piece of paper and ask where I thought I could improve for next year. He was a very dedicated man as I figured out later in life. Not only for his love of the game, although he did love watching baseball for his whole life, but more for his son's love of the game. Looking back, every year we would take a summer family vacation to Aitkin, MN for a week, and every year mid-week my dad would load the whole family up in the station wagon, drive us all back to Forest Lake so I could play in that week's game. After the game we would turn around and drive back to finish our vacation. I would guess even by today's standards that's dedication. The following years were filled with watching grandsons Greg and Steve play and son Dallas coach. As the boys got older and older I one day looked around and there I was back in town ball again. I looked over to the stands and there was my dad. At the beginning of every Bandits season my dad would always ask, "Is the team going to have enough money this year?" As most of us who have been around know my answer would always be "I'd imagtion by the end of the season I'll be the one paying what's left." He would always say, "here's a couple hundred dollars for the team. It's not right you should have to pay it all." Once again showing his love for the game was still there, but loving his son was still more important to him. The last season and a half my dad was no longer able to make it to the games, but I will always remember that the last game he was at was a game he got to see his son play in also. It was strange that, even at the age I was and the age he was, while I was out there and he was watching I still wanted to do the best I could for my dad. The only real chance I had in that game came when I was on first base and there was a hit to right center field. I remember picking up the direction of the ball and thinking I'm going first to third for my dad. Thankfully that day I may have been a step or two faster then normal and made it. It was hardly the play of the game or a determining factor in the outcome, but when the game was over and I went over to thank my parents for coming to the game, as I walked up to my dad he just smiled and said, "I see you can still pick them up and put them down." Looking ahead to this season it will be nice to know my dad can come to the games again and have a lot better seat. I think back on our last conversation on the moring of his passing. We were both sitting on the side of the bed, I was crying and telling my dad how much I loved him and how proud I was of him. He looked at me and said he thought he had made a lot of mistakes. Dad, I want you to know looking back I don't see a single one. Please pray for my mom and family during this difficult time.
Visitation at Mattson's Funeral Home
Forest Lake
Tuesday Jan.25th 4 to 8 pm.
Erv's Barbershop
EJ's Bottleshop
Wayne's Liquors
Cedar-East Bethel Lions and Lionesses
We thank all of you for your support of our team.
The Bandits winter workouts will be held at Extra Innings located at 9230 Xylon Ave. North Brooklyn Park. ( map on page 3 under locations tab ) The schedule will be as follows.
Feb. 3rd 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Feb. 15th 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Mar. 2nd 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Mar. 16th 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Mar. 30th 7:00 to 8:00pm
April 5th 8:00 to 9:00 pm
April 21st 8:00 to 9:00pm
The cost will be divided by number of players there. First Bandits newsflash of the season. The more guys there the less it costs
Any players wanting to get caught up on money they owe the team from last year may click on donate and pay on-line. Go to player payment at top of the page. Click on select player find your name and click on it. Sometimes it's better to come up with the money for last season before this season starts.
eastbethelbanditsbaseball@yahoo.com
