Monday, July 27, 2015

WIBW Video Of Rattlers

    There is a nice WIBW video about the Rattlers at: http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/Through-family-and-baseball-the-Rossville-Rattlers-carry-out-one-mans-vision--318726161.html 
     
A transcript of the audio is below:
ROSSVILLE, Kan. (WIBW) 
       The Rossville Rattlers have been through their fair share of adversity on the way to winning the 2015 Cowdin Cup. Through family and baseball one man's dream has lived on.   
       Hours before first pitch Tobi and Bruce Cowdin can be seen getting the field ready at Joe Campbell Stadium.
   
       The sweat and labor was all a part of a plan for Brett Cowdin who started and owned the Rattlers until he passed away two years ago.
 
        "My dad had this crazy idea," said Tobi. "About five years ago he stepped out on the field when he was coaching here at Rossville High School and he said 'Man I think this park could maybe be something one day.'"
 
       "It's a good opportunity to make it a real nice ball field and make it better and get the community to come out and see us play," said Brett's brother Bruce. "And have our family all together in the summer."
   
       Part of Brett's vision for the stadium and team is lived out before every home game at Joe Campbell Stadium.
   
       "His vision was to take this 100 plus year old park here...the oldest wooden stadium here Kansas and turn it into a beautiful place to play for not only for Rossville High School but also college players in the summer," said Tobi. "He wanted to get it alive again. Have people in Rossville in the park enjoying the summer days and watching quality baseball."
   
       The quality baseball part is back for the Rattlers. Just a season after they had twice as many loses as wins the Rattlers won the Cowdin Cup.
   
       "Emotionally it really drives me honestly," said Tobi. "My last name's on the trophy named after my dad which is a big deal. Winning it isn't everything obviously, the kids are everything out here."
   
       Tobi was also named the Mid-Plains League Manager of the year, and his family sees similarities to his father Brett.
   
       "It's been really good working with Tobi. I see a lot of traits that his dad had in him," said Bruce. "Not just coaching wise but people skills wise and the way he cares about college players and they pick up on that. That's probably one of the big things about him is I see a lot of his dad in him."
   
       "My dad started and we're kinda keeping his vision going now," said Tobi. "It's an honor to keep doing that."

No comments:

Post a Comment