Kalamazoo, Michigan – It’s not about being the best. This is not even your skill level.
“I was the last chosen to play in the team,” said Laurel Hyames-Sayre. “I was the least athletic person you know.”
This is to do what you can with what you have been given.
“If you don’t want to get up and move, think of Laurel,” said Dr. Ballines.
Laurel is well known in the West Hills Athletic Club in Kalamazoo, working in the establishment five days a week before the Pandemic.
“I think it’s a question if you don’t keep it, you don’t do it,” said Hyames-Sayer.
Now she can be seen in the process of regularly frequenting West Hills twice a week while she works with her trainer, Ballines.
“She doesn’t want me to take it smoothly, but we can’t all do things we did,” said Ballines. “The level of its capacities has decreased slightly.”
What has not decreased is Laurel’s love for Tigers de Detroit.
“I appreciated 1968 and 1984, and it has been a bit difficult since then,” said Hyames-Sayre.
Part of the struggle was bad luck. Another part was the lack of Southpaw – like Laurel herself – in their ranks.
It led his coach to make sure to do something.
“It is really unique. That’s why we wanted to get there,” said Ballines. “She inspires so many people and I want to make sure she knows it and that it is her.”
On Wednesday, Hyames-Sayre, Ballines and nearly 60 of their closest friends who arise from Arizona and Florida were inspired on a coach bus before heading for Detroit.
Everything to see Laurel throwing the first ceremonial throw in the Tigers match against the Giants of San Francisco – the same day as the 97th anniversary of Laurel.
After the field, there was only one thing in Laurel’s mind: “I’m glad it’s over and I’m glad the ball went where I said.”
It may not be the fastest pre-match field, but that’s not what matters. It never did it.
Although it is for every day of Laurel’s life, it is never a question of giving everything.
“I like to be active and I hope I can always be so,” said Hyames-Sayre.