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Family connections abound in sports programs
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Whether it's Benson track or softball, there are plenty of athletes and coaches bearing the same last name with three father-daughter duos aiming at making the Bobcats the best they can be.
On the softball field, pitcher Megan Ellsworth doesn't just have a pitching coach on the field, but it is also her father, Manny Ellsworth.
Also on the softball field, Brittney Batten is the team's catcher and Ernie Batten's daughter.
On the track, Sylvia Gomez can be seen getting pointers from her father, Oscar.
In talking about their time together, Manny and Megan smiled and laughed about how much softball is the tie that binds.
Whether it's during the high school season, or when she's traveling to California to compete in the leagues, the two agreed softball is usually the topic of the day..
"I've never known it any other way," Megan said. "My dad has just always been there on the field with me. I like having him around."
Manny said softball became a passion for his 17-year-old daughter when she was in elementary school, and he knew he should get as involved as possible.
"I know I need to be right there to help her. I've learned right along with her," Manny said. "School and softball are her life, and I think it helps us be closer."
And getting involved is just what he did, Megan joked about having her dad on the field. If she makes a mistake or has a bad game, she said she knows she has the entire car ride home to hear about it.
"When it comes to my pitching, that's entirely different," Megan said. "With him it becomes you missed the spot, you need to work on that. And at some point, I just have to say okay dad."
The two obviously have a strong bond on and off the field, and Megan, who has earned a lot of attention for her pitching capabilities, said she works hard and is going to succeed for her father.
"I wear the number 63," she said. "My dad wore that number when he played college football, but he got hurt and couldn't keep playing. I want to make that number famous because he couldn't."
Sitting behind the home plate is catcher Brittney Batten, and behind her ear is her dad/coach Ernie. The two can easily be described as feisty, with a passion for softball.
"It's a challenge sometimes to have dad on the field. He might be a grouchy old man, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Brittney said. "This is what we do together, this is our time."
Sylvia Gomez said it's not tough to have her dad as a coach, and to a large extent it makes things easier.
"It's cool you have someone familiar on the field to talked talk to," she said. "And my dad understands me, so it really helps."
Gomez is currently ranked number one in the state in the 400-meter race, and is also coming up in the 100-meter event.
James Driggers, Athletic Director for Benson Schools, said what these three fathers/coaches have done is great, but also a challenge.
"I know firsthand what it's like to coach your own child and it's not easy," he said. "As a father you have a tendency to push your child harder, but as a coach you can't do that. I think these guys have done a really good job with that. What these three bring to the field is invaluable and I hope that they will continue coaching even when their children graduate."
Brittney said having her dad on the field can be a challenge, however, because she can't call him dad, he's Coach Batten, and she's just another player on the field.
Ernie said he has the same problems, while Brittney is his daughter and he wants her to do the best she can, he also has to focus on every other player on the field.
"On the field it's player before daughter and sometimes that's hard to remember," he said. "I just don't want to miss any time with her, so no I wouldn't trade any of this for the world."
Oscar Gomez had plenty of time before Sylvia to get use to it being player before child. Gomez said he's gone through several children and has volunteered as a coach in a variety of sports such as softball, basketball and now with his youngest child, Sylvia, track.
"I learned you have to separate coaching from being a father," Oscar said. "I really don't push my kids any harder than I push the other athletes on the team. But I want to be out here and be a part of my kid's life. I really enjoy doing it."
Besides the father-daughter duos playing on the Benson fields, there are also several siblings working as teammates.
On the baseball and soccer field Matt and James Howe are usually making a splash, and starting in baseball this season there are brothers Kyl and Cory Graf.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Whether it's Benson track or softball, there are plenty of athletes and coaches bearing the same last name with three father-daughter duos aiming at making the Bobcats the best they can be.
On the softball field, pitcher Megan Ellsworth doesn't just have a pitching coach on the field, but it is also her father, Manny Ellsworth.
Also on the softball field, Brittney Batten is the team's catcher and Ernie Batten's daughter.
On the track, Sylvia Gomez can be seen getting pointers from her father, Oscar.
In talking about their time together, Manny and Megan smiled and laughed about how much softball is the tie that binds.
Whether it's during the high school season, or when she's traveling to California to compete in the leagues, the two agreed softball is usually the topic of the day..
"I've never known it any other way," Megan said. "My dad has just always been there on the field with me. I like having him around."
Manny said softball became a passion for his 17-year-old daughter when she was in elementary school, and he knew he should get as involved as possible.
"I know I need to be right there to help her. I've learned right along with her," Manny said. "School and softball are her life, and I think it helps us be closer."
And getting involved is just what he did, Megan joked about having her dad on the field. If she makes a mistake or has a bad game, she said she knows she has the entire car ride home to hear about it.
"When it comes to my pitching, that's entirely different," Megan said. "With him it becomes you missed the spot, you need to work on that. And at some point, I just have to say okay dad."
The two obviously have a strong bond on and off the field, and Megan, who has earned a lot of attention for her pitching capabilities, said she works hard and is going to succeed for her father.
"I wear the number 63," she said. "My dad wore that number when he played college football, but he got hurt and couldn't keep playing. I want to make that number famous because he couldn't."
Sitting behind the home plate is catcher Brittney Batten, and behind her ear is her dad/coach Ernie. The two can easily be described as feisty, with a passion for softball.
"It's a challenge sometimes to have dad on the field. He might be a grouchy old man, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Brittney said. "This is what we do together, this is our time."
Sylvia Gomez said it's not tough to have her dad as a coach, and to a large extent it makes things easier.
"It's cool you have someone familiar on the field to talked talk to," she said. "And my dad understands me, so it really helps."
Gomez is currently ranked number one in the state in the 400-meter race, and is also coming up in the 100-meter event.
James Driggers, Athletic Director for Benson Schools, said what these three fathers/coaches have done is great, but also a challenge.
"I know firsthand what it's like to coach your own child and it's not easy," he said. "As a father you have a tendency to push your child harder, but as a coach you can't do that. I think these guys have done a really good job with that. What these three bring to the field is invaluable and I hope that they will continue coaching even when their children graduate."
Brittney said having her dad on the field can be a challenge, however, because she can't call him dad, he's Coach Batten, and she's just another player on the field.
Ernie said he has the same problems, while Brittney is his daughter and he wants her to do the best she can, he also has to focus on every other player on the field.
"On the field it's player before daughter and sometimes that's hard to remember," he said. "I just don't want to miss any time with her, so no I wouldn't trade any of this for the world."
Oscar Gomez had plenty of time before Sylvia to get use to it being player before child. Gomez said he's gone through several children and has volunteered as a coach in a variety of sports such as softball, basketball and now with his youngest child, Sylvia, track.
"I learned you have to separate coaching from being a father," Oscar said. "I really don't push my kids any harder than I push the other athletes on the team. But I want to be out here and be a part of my kid's life. I really enjoy doing it."
Besides the father-daughter duos playing on the Benson fields, there are also several siblings working as teammates.
On the baseball and soccer field Matt and James Howe are usually making a splash, and starting in baseball this season there are brothers Kyl and Cory Graf.
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