To the editor:

We’ve been coaching with Michelle Degagne for many years and have also had the opportunity to be involved with her dad before she took over the Tigers Minor Division team from her father. I just don’t understand and want to express my deepest feelings about how a league can make a decision like they have and eliminate the team we’ve been coaching for over 20 years.

We’ve been involved with the league since our son signed up for T-ball and then moved through the divisions. After he aged out of the league, we decided that we loved coaching the youth of Westport and decided to keep our team, the Cardinals, for many years after. Tom Cummiskey and I coached the Cardinals until we decided to move over to Michelle’s Tigers as we also knew the dedication the family had for the team, the league and the town.

During our tenure, I was treasurer of the league for many years and my husband was Minor League director. He also umpired for free many times at games in the Minor League Division. I noticed that Michelle did not mention that the four of us took a 9-year-old team and a 10-old-team to Babe Ruth state tournaments, coming in first place in the district region.

My husband and I, along with some other dedicated individuals in town, have also been recipients of the WYAA Founders award for those who are involved in building the new fields off Toute 177 in town. We’ve been recognized by the state of Massachusetts and the town of Westport for our dedication to the youth of Westport and by receiving the Founders award.

As Michelle mentioned, the team was eliminated so they could allow parents to coach their own children. My thoughts are this … As many managers bring in new players’ parents to be involved, how is it a better thing for the league to eliminate us from coaching the Tigers and teaching the youth of Westport the game of baseball. I would think we should be an inspiration to parents of children in this town to step up and help and become a volunteer in some manner to further the growth of the league. Families have been turning away and signing up elsewhere or participating in a different sport because of issues like this.

It has been very disheartening to have our team taken away when we love teaching youths something we love and also teaching them pride, self-confidence, sportsmanship and camaraderie which will grow with them into adulthood.

My husband and I want to thank all the families that we’ve touched through the years and know it has been an honor and a blessing to be part of their lives during the time we shared on the ballfield. Coaching with the Degagnes, it has also been an honor to share in the special tradition that the Tigers have brought to the league and the town of Westport. You all have certainly made the experience something special.

Barbara Cummiskey

Westport