Stan Ziomek, who founded Amherst Little League in 1952 and remained at its helm for 60 years, always — always — sent a smile, a wink or a nod my way whenever he saw me and, I imagine, to anyone else who ever crossed his path. Most of those encounters were here, where he sat in the shade of a beech tree behind home plate at Community Field and held court whenever Amherst played. The baseball diamond and scoreboard there would come to be named for him, long before his passing in July. But my favorite memory of Mr. Ziomek, as I always addressed him, was at the Mill River Recreation Area on opening day of Amherst Little League, 1995 or ’96.
After a scratchy recording of the “Star Spangled Banner” played over the public address system, it was fairly quiet as the players took the field and the pitcher warmed up.
Then suddenly came a call to attention as Ziomek leaned close into the microphone, his voice slightly elevating as if he might be delivering a question: “Number seven?”
Most of the players — including the actual number seven, the second baseman — did not yet know their numbers and stole furtive looks at their jerseys, no doubt wondering for what offense they had been called out by a voice that seemed to come from God. Then, after what could have been an eternity, the other shoe dropped, as Ziomek, in the same deadpan tone, implored, “Tuck your shirt in.”
— Kevin Gutting