(Editor’s Note: Logan O’Hoppe is a senior at St. John the Baptist. He is regarded as the top catching prospect on Long Island and just completed the regular season with a batting average of .511 and an OBP of .662 with two HR. He is committed to East Carolina University. The following words are his own.)
When I was asked to write this, it took a long time to think about what I was going to say. How can you put into words how much love and appreciation you have for the person that gave you life? I always say my mom is my superhero. Every day she carries herself in a way that impresses me. I don’t think i’ve ever seen my mom carry a bad mood or bad thought over into the next day. She is always able to show me how life should be lived. Mom will do anything she can to make the people she cares about happy. I’ve seen it first hand with not only myself but primarily through others. Most people that are close with “mamahop”I think feel that she is a mother figure to them as well. These people know who they are. Anyone that comes over knows the first thing she’ll ask is “do you need anything?”, or “what do you want to eat?”. Not to mention she is a killer cook. Her chicken alfredo and meatloaf sandwiches have grabbed the hearts of many! She has a special connection with everyone she meets which is what I strive to emulate in life.
As for my relationship with her though baseball, she’s everything a player could ask for. Mom knows the game but watches quietly in the corner with my dad. After the game she shows that she is proud. However, she’s not just proud with how I played. In fact, my performance on the field is the least of her concern. If I carry myself the right way on the field and show respect to umpires, coaches, teammates, and opponents, that makes her the most proud. As I said before, she knows the game. I can talk to her about what happened in the game and she understands. A common line in the car is “shoulda pulled a suicide squeeze”. I haven’t heard of a lot of moms that even know what a squeeze is let alone having it as their favorite play. If I get frustrated with how a game went, she doesn’t feel sorry and I feel that aspect has helped me the most. When I talk about a bad game she lets me know, “don’t complain about it, fix it.” Although that would get me mad in the moment, it let me turn the page and have a positive attitude my next day.
My mom has built me to be a person and player that can feel safe in the real world. As I leave for college in a month, I am going to miss her a ton. However, what she has shown and taught me are things that I will keep with me forever. I can’t thank God enough for giving me such a bright light in my life. Thank you for everything you’ve done for mama!
