The warm weather and the excitement of the World Baseball Classic have me in a baseball mood. I figured this week would be a good time to tip my Oilers hat to the Olean Oilers. They are gearing up for their first season in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. I was lucky enough to play for the Oilers for three summers, and those were some of the best summers of my life.

During my time there, we played in the NYCBL. I was part of the 2016 championship team and was fortunate to collect over 100 hits in an Oilers uniform. In an organization as decorated as Olean, that is an accomplishment I am very proud of.

Olean is a special place. It is a small town with a population of about 13,700, but on game nights, the whole town seems to shut down and head to Bradner Stadium. The stands fill up, and the atmosphere feels a lot bigger than the town itself. I remember our championship game one year drew about 5,000 people, with fans even standing on cars just to get a look at the game.

The first pitch is always an event, too. Some nights, the mayor throws it out. Other nights, it might be a Life Flight pilot who lands a helicopter in center field, hops out, and jogs in to throw the first pitch. No joke. It is the kind of thing that makes summer baseball in a small town pretty special.

I am so thankful I was able to experience Olean. Everyone there treated my teammates and me so well. We came there with the hope of being scouted to play professional baseball or to get better for our teams back at college, but we left with something more. We left with the experience of a special small town.

Mom and pop restaurants, local fly shops, and a community that welcomes you in and makes you feel like one of their own. That is what makes places like Olean so special.

Now you might be thinking, Jimmy, we get it. Sounds like a great place and a great story. What is your point?
Well, here is the funny part. I didn’t want to go.

I had just come off a long college baseball season, and all I wanted to do was stay home, fish, hang out with my dog Buddy, and spend time with my girlfriend, who is now my wife, Lauren. But my dad insisted that I go and give it a try.

We settled on a deal. I would give it a try, and if I hated it, I could come home. Once I arrived, I quickly realized it was one of the best places I could have ended up. I made some of my best friends in the world there.

There are two lessons in that story that people my age sometimes do not want to hear.

First, give things a try. I did not want to spend my summer in a small New York town, living in a little apartment far away from family and friends. But I gave it a shot, and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. I almost let my worry or fear of going keep me from taking a chance.

Second, listen to your parents. They have been through it before. They are not trying to steer you wrong. They truly just want what is best for you. They have lived through the same decisions and crossroads we face, and sometimes they can see opportunities we might miss because we are too focused on what feels comfortable in the moment. My dad knew that getting out of my comfort zone and playing summer ball would help me grow, not just as a baseball player but as a person.

I cannot imagine what my life would look like if I had not listened to my dad and ventured up to Olean. I made some of my best friends, got to play in front of pro scouts, and gained a second home in Olean, New York. It is a place I still travel back to just to grab some Tasta Pizza or catch a ball game.

Shout-out to Olean, the Oilers, my teammates and friends, and all the people who make the team and the city special. Oh yeah, and Tasta Pizza.

Cheers to a great week.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9