Testimonials

2009 – Governor Joe Manchin
“I have seen many opportunities over the years to be involved in baseball projects, but this one is really special.” more

2010 – Nick Vinuto, Houston Astros
“Go to any Prospect League and you will likely see 4-6 future Major Leaguers…” more

2010 – Bob Todd, The Ohio State University
“On behalf of Ohio State University, we look forward to our relationship with the West Virginia Miners…” more

2010 – Jeff Waggoner, Marshall University
“Marshall University is a proud supporter of the West Virginia Miners and the Epling family.” more

2010 – Coach Scott Stricklin, Kent State University
“The very best colligate players will come to southern West Virginia because the Major League scouts will be there…” more

06/24/10 – The Lilly Family
New fans from five hours away in a small town called Lorain, Ohio

To The West Virginia Miners Baseball Team,

On June 23rd my son and I attended a baseball game played between your team and our local baseball team, "Lorain County Ironmen". When we entered the gates we had no idea who "our team" was playing and was just there to root our boys on. We took up our view of the game between your teams dugout and bullpen, as the game progressed your boys would walk back and forth and engage in smiles, high fives, and hello's with my son, prior to even finding out where you all were from my son had decided he was rooting for "the other team". It was a few minutes after that comment that a young man decided to stop and engage us in detail. (#21 was his number) It was at that point that these boys and this team earned a fan for life.

When the young man mentioned his ball club was out of Beckley, West Virginia my sons eyes sparkled. At that point nothing else mattered, every pitch, every player, every play was taken in and cherished by my little boy, each of you had become hero's in his eyes. My son looks at Beckley like most of us would look at Miami, Las Vegas, or Hawaii, places we wish we could spend a lifetime. (my son turned a Disney Cruise or a trip to Universal Studio to spend his spring break in Beckley). The kindness and sincerity that your entire ball club showed him helped plant a seed in my son that he will nurture and grow with his entire life.

This morning sitting around the breakfast table he ask his mother and I a question, he said "Dad if I am good enough and make it to college to play ball, do you think we could get the Miners to recruit me like they did #21?" You boys may not realize the opportunity that sits in front of you, "I'm not talking about the one where you make it to The Major Leagues" "which I hope each of you do" I'm talking about the one where you are walking hero's and role models to little boys in towns all across America. It was evident last night, you took a young boys dream of being a great ball player and replaced it with a true goal, a tangible accomplishment that he may someday become a Miner.

That may sound silly too many of you, but for a father trying to raise a young boy in this world with so many distractions and reasons for children to quit, to be lazy and to just give up, I am looking for every angle and every advantage I can get to help him be the most successful man he can become. You young men helped me with that yesterday evening with your kindness and sincerity to Justyn (my son). I can't thank you enough I just hope you keep up the good work.

Thank you
New fans from five hours away in a small town called Lorain, Ohio
The Lilly Family
313 Euclid Ave Lorain, Ohio 44052

P.S. To my fellow Buckeye #3, Go Kent State, thanks for taking the ball after the game and finishing off the autographs. #21 you started the ball rolling, I give you all the credit, my wife had to go to the mall today to buy a case for the ball to go in. And the young man who gave my son the bat, my son taped the broken bat up last night and was painting the tape black this morning when I was leaving for work. "little things really do matter guys" Thank you all once again! And coach I'll see you on the fourth!