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ecball
72 Posts |
 Posted - 04/28/2011 : 14:07:46
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We are attempting to do something special that we hope comes together for this Saturday at 8AM at Barnett Park. My assistant coach for the past 5 years and good friend is dying of stomach cancer. His name is Mike Kolesar and he’s 42 years old. Mike has a wife (Kim) and 3 young boys ages 4, 10 and 11. I have coached his two kids in baseball, basketball and football over the past 5 years and they are great boys. The 10 year old (Ryan) is in my son’s class and plays on the 10U East Cobb Yankees and the 11 year old (Preston) has played for me on the 11U East Cobb Braves since 8U. Mike has been a great coach for the past 5 years, as he has been an assistant with the Yankees and Braves. He has been a tremendous asset for both teams and has been a great role model and mentor for these young boys.
Mike found out that he had stage 4 stomach cancer on Christmas day and has battled as hard as he can for the past 4 months. It has been a very emotional and trying time for his family, extended family, his kid’s teams and friends. The outreach and support in the community has overwhelmed both Mike and Kim. The doctors have said there isn’t anything more that they can do so hospice is coming on Friday to be with Mike and the family. Kim has been a pillar of strength through of all this, as you can only imagine the things she has been through and continues to deal with. Preston has done a tremendous job this year of blocking out his dads illness and been able to have fun with his friends for a few hours on the weekends. Preston has been our best pitcher and defensive player through the first part of the season and he was greatly missed this past weekend in FL as he stayed home to spend the last Easter with his dad. This stuff is incredibly difficult for me to even type but I thought many of you should know.
Mike loves the game of baseball and there is nothing more that he would rather do than be at the park! With that said, the Braves and Yankees are donating a cement bench to ECB so Mike can watch his boys as they grow up. From time to time, the Yankees and Braves may be wearing Ole Miss caps, as this was where he and Kim met and went to school.
This weekend…..We changed around our schedule in order to play in an event close to Mike’s home so he could see his two boys play one last game. There was no way Mike could get to two games this weekend and he certainly didn’t want to pick which kid to go watch play. With that said, we are playing in a 12U tournament at Barnett Park and will pick up Ryan for one game at 8AM on Saturday. Preston will pitch as long as he can and Ryan will catch him, which I hope is very special memory for the boys and the family. Let’s all hope for a perfect game! Hopefully we can get some pictures and video of the game that the boys can cherish forever. I really want this to be a special event that Mike can take with him to heaven as he watches his young boys grow up. If you are around, try to stop by and approach Mike and say hello. He and Kim are both very touched by how much people care. Sometimes, you aren’t sure how many people like you or think positively of you, until you are gone.
I very much appreciate all of the calls and emails over the past couple of months as this has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with. Mike would give one piece of advice to the baseball community…..Keep it about the kids, don’t put pressure on your son and make sure they are learning the game while having fun doing so. He is a man of few words but the ones he selects, he uses wisely.
Mike Kirksey
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SSBuckeye
575 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 15:26:31
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Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea. Mike and his family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Very much wish I could be there on Saturday. I think we all should go home tonight and hug our kids.
Andy |
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Angels Coach
6 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 17:16:59
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ecball,
I just want you to know that your coach Mike will be in our thoughts and prayers. Although we will probably not be able to make it due to a game on Saturday, we will definitely have Mike in our hearts. When the first pitch is thrown we compete fearlessly against each other as competitors do. But when the game is over, we are still part of a small fraternity.... a band of brothers. I know I speak for my coach Dwyane with the Georgia Grays and letting you know that you are not alone. We often talk to our kids about life and use Baseball as that vehicle to prepare them. I hope this will be a wake up call for all coaches and a reminder to put this game into its proper perspective.
Good luck with your game and win one for Mike! |
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JBR
43 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 20:18:01
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Wow .... sobering and devastating news to say the least. The Roswell Hornets send their prayers to Mike and his family. I will try and be there Saturday morning to participate in this special moment.
John Ryan |
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bball-fan
89 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 21:01:37
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| Thoughts and prayers to the Kolesar family and baseball family. |
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S18
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 21:19:09
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| The Stealth Baseball family sends our thoughts and prayers to the Kolesar family. We hope this tournament is the best ever. We will continue to keep you all in our prayers. |
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biggin
174 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 21:40:04
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| Wow we down here on southside will keep the kolesar family in are prayers I hope this helps all of us keep it in proper perspective. i |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 22:10:01
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| Coach K, we wont be able to make it but what you are doing with Ryan and Preston is an amazing thing. Maybe we could organize a tournament in his honor or just pick a Sunday where all EC teams 7U-18U wear the Ole Miss hats to honor him and his family? Our family will continue to pray for Mr. Kolesar and family and hopefully baseball will continue to help these two boys have fun and help them cope during such a difficult time. |
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1ballplayer
97 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 22:38:09
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| The ECB Diamondbacks will have the Kolesar family and our friends at the ECB Braves on our minds and in our hearts as we play in the Javy Lopez wood bat tournament this weekend. |
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gloveman
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 22:38:43
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| The Kolesar Family will be in our thoughts and prayers. |
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GA Grays
42 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 23:01:13
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| We will have a special mention in our team prayer on Saturday before/after the game. You guys (coaches, players, parents)do great things with the kids, this is no different. Our prayers go out to the Kolesars. God bless |
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coachtony
236 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 23:23:50
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The Fayette Force will keep the Kolesar Family in our thoughts and prayers as we play this weekend.
--T
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RACGOFAR
208 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 08:11:55
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| The North Gwinnett Bulldogs' thoughts and prayers go out to the Kolesar family this weekend. Good luck Bravos and bring home the hardware! AC |
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J.Foley
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 08:50:45
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| The Foleys will be keeping coach Mike and his family in our hearts and prayers. Good luck to both the boys this weekend. |
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ecball
72 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 09:22:31
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The Cherokee Reds organization is doing some great things for us that morning. They are giving us the home dug-out, which is closest to the parking lot and they will have Mike throw out the first pitch. In addition, they are donating the entire morning gate to go towards the purchase of the bench in his name. If you want to give extra at the gate, the dollars will be well spent for a great cause.
My heart just breaks for those boys. I just hope they can have fun and enjoy the moment for their dad. |
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Tripp
171 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 10:04:50
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Kirksey,
Thank you very much for posting this. Needless to say, this has been a very emotional and difficult experience for everyone that knows the Kolesar family.
10u Baseball Community,
We have kept Mike Kolesar's story rather silent this season at Mike's request. Baseball is Mike's passion, his boys passion and he wants baseball to be the boys outlet away from the tragic situation they are dealing with as a family. As much as we wanted to honor Mike by dedicating a a game, a tournament, a season, etc. in his honor.....we have respected his wishes to say silent and let the boys be boys and play baseball with their friends until now.
For those of you that know Mike, I know you will agree with me. Mike is the picture perfect figure you have in mind when day dreaming about what the perfect mentor would be for your son. Mike is a true southern gentleman. He is an amazing Husband, Father, Son, and Coach. He is highly educated, successful in business and his priority is giving to others before self.
Mike has been a key part of the Yankees coaching staff from our inception at 8u. His values, demeanor, and life priorities have had a meaningful impact on all of our boys. Words are very hard to describe the emotions and feelings we all have. Simply put, we are all blessed to have Mike and the Kolesar family in the lives of our sons and families.
I have been personally blessed to have Mike, Kim and the Kolesar family in my life. Mike is a neighbor, a friend and we have coached our boys in baseball and basketball together.
Just like Mike Kirkey of the 11u ECB Braves mentioned, I have received many emails from friends of the Kolsar family. All wanting to know the same basic thing....what can we do for the Kolesar's. I think we all want to help, but just don't know what to do. Dena Mogelnicki, who is a friend and neighbor of the Kolesars, and I have set up a way for all of us to band together and individually help in a small way but to collectively provide for the Kolesar's in a big way. We have set up an account and service providers to provide the Kolesar's with prepared meals, essentials and home services during their time of need. Many have offered to bring cooked meals to the Kolesars but the problem is that with Mike's condition being uncertain day to day and the boys busy schedules it is all but impossible to predict when it may be a good time or not to stop by. This service will allow Kim to make a phone call and have prepared food delivered to them when needed or desired.
You can make a donation by going to the following link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=7LEKZ2343YG7L&lc=US&item_name=Mike%20Kolesar¤cy_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted
If you have any questions on this, pleae feel free to email me trippboyer@gmail.com or call me 404-405-7313.
We hope many of you can make it to the Cherokee Reds facility at 8am tomorrow to watch Ryan catch and Preston pitch alongside Mike, Kim and grandparents.
Go Kolesars!!!!
Tripp Boyer
10u ECB Yankees
Asst Coach
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Edited by - Tripp on 04/29/2011 10:50:12 |
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BASmith
51 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 10:07:36
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| The Sandy Plains Wildcats players & family have the Kolesar & Braves family in our thoughts and prayers. |
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wfdd
28 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 11:16:22
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| The West Forsyth Diamond Dawgs are praying for the entire Kolesar Family as well as all the Yankees and Braves families during this difficult time. . |
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great base ball
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 11:59:18
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| Our thoughs & prayers go out to the Koleser family. The Patriots |
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Crossroads
448 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 12:01:14
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| The Crossroads Baseball families will keep the Kolesar Family in our thoughts and prayers. |
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ECB10
6 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 12:14:31
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| We are playing in a wood bat tournament at the same time. The EC Rays will honor Mike and his family with a moment of silence and prayer. You are in our thoughts during this difficult time. |
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moccs
349 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 16:44:35
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| Mike the Moccasin family will keep the Kolesar family in our thoughts and prayers this weekend .Great post and this really keeps things in perspective compared to everything else we read and post on this site. May God be with you !!! |
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ECBSpartans
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 17:59:02
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| The Spartan family sends their prayers to the Koselar family and their friends. We will be thinking of you while in Savannah this weekend. |
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Yankeefan22
64 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 18:12:45
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Kolesar family. Best of luck to the Braves and Yankees.
Wills Park Warriors |
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WFBaseball
70 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 22:32:36
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The 9u West Forsyth Diamond Dawgs will definitely pray and will continue to do so for this family. Well done on organizing such a special event for all involved.
Clayton Williams
9u Diamond Dawgs |
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Cardsfan17
24 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2011 : 00:22:31
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| The Macon Cards will keep the Kolesar family in our thoughts and prayers. Having both kids on the field at the same time is a classy move. It will be a game that will never be forgotten. |
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