Youth Baseball Academy Hits a Home Run

The Eitzen Lions/Caledonia Haulers Youth Baseball Academy is a summer baseball program that captures the spirit of small-town America.

The Academy serves children ages 4 to 10, with players coming from New Albin, Spring Grove, Caledonia, Eitzen, Houston and Rushford.

Caledonia preschool teacher and high school varsity baseball coach Shawn Bauer founded the Academy in 2018. About 80 kids participated that first year in Caledonia, and 220 kids participated this year.

After 2019, the Academy moved to Eitzen. Practices are held at St. Mary’s School in Caledonia, while games are played in Eitzen.

Bauer’s right-hand man is Jeff Adamson, mayor of Eitzen, who many may recognize as Uncle Sam from the town’s annual Fourth of July parade. Each year, one player receives the Jeff Adamson Award for being the most supportive and positive teammate.

Assistant coaches Brinley Middendorf and Libby Morey also play important roles. Bauer and Adamson proudly noted that the assistant coaches know all the kids by name.

Bauer started the program because he wanted children to have a place where they could simply be kids, have fun and create memories.

The first group of players Bauer coached are now Caledonia freshmen. It is not uncommon for them to come up to him and say, “Hey, I still got my ball,” or “I still have my medals.”

Academy graduates often return on game nights to shag balls and high-five players after home runs.

Bauer said he is not an “everybody gets a trophy” kind of guy. First, second and third place teams receive medals. Some trophies are awarded. Every child, however, receives a goody bag prepared by Bauer’s mom, filled with small tattoos, Fruity Tooties, pencils and a Wired Rooster ice cream coupon.

Select players are recognized with awards such as the Jeff Adamson Award, Hotdish Award, Eitzen Lions “Roar” Award, Big Rig Award and Grit Award.

Each game begins with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Academy’s motto:

“I am strong, I am important, I am loved.”

Pee Wee games are three innings long, giving every player three chances to bat. Coaches emphasize both competition and sportsmanship, teaching children how to win and lose well.

The goal is for kids to shake hands, say “good game” and head off for ice cream without stress weighing on them.

The schedule gives players plenty of opportunities to learn and play. Teams practice twice a week for 90 minutes and play one game each week. The T-ball teams played seven games during the season. There were 14 Pee Wee teams, and each team played six or seven regular-season games before the playoffs. All the Peewee teams make the playoffs, which are held over several nights and often draw standing-room-only crowds.

Pee Wees had 165 total home runs this year.

Another highlight is the blue target nets set near the edge of the grass. When a player hits or bounces a ball into a net, they earn a $10 gift card donated by Kwik Trip.

For the players, even turning on the ballpark lights is special. Adamson said the kids get excited when they have the chance to play under the lights.

This year also marked the first Pee Wee Home Run Derby, with 42 signing up and both a boy and a girl taking home top honors.

“The Eitzen Lions have been with us the longest, and they’ve done a great job for us,” Bauer said. “That’s how it got so big, is because of those guys.”

The second title sponsor is Caledonia Haulers. Numerous other sponsors also support the program, with their banners displayed along the outfield fence.

The Eitzen Lions run the concession stand with help from clubs and organizations that receive the proceeds, like the local 4-H clubs, ABC, a gymnastics club, teachers, and the Caledonia softball team.

“There are people who participate that have no skin in the games. They have no grandkids, no nothing. They just come down and watch,” Bauer said. “You can come down here any Tuesday or Thursday night, and the stands are packed.”

Bauer describes the atmosphere on game nights as “electric.”

“Everybody’s happy. They’re having a good time. It’s the real deal. It’s small-town America.”

Adamson explained that families enjoy coming to Eitzen because the park offers a playground, shelter, bathrooms, food (including ice cream) and plenty of open space.

The Academy brings older and younger generations together in one place. Having grandparents in the stands is a big deal for the players.

During playoffs, area fire departments, ambulances, and police bring their vehicles to the field and sound their sirens for the kids.

And on a summer night in Eitzen, that is a pretty big home run.