There are pleasures in life and some of those pleasures linger in our memory down thru the years. My generation is not the first group who enjoyed playing ball on a field of dreams. Dad and his childhood buddies also enjoyed a ball game or two down in Micklewrights pasture.

Clayton Micklewright the youngest son of the pasture owner gained his desire and enthusiasm for sports on a Sunday afternoon or so playing in this favorite community spot. Clayton or as my dad called him, "Shine" went on and was a member of the first football team Hewitt high school ever fielded.

Micklewrights pasture was a dual purpose playing field boys played football during football season and baseball in baseball season. Clayton Micklewrights exploits as a running back on Hewitts' very first ever football team was a proud product from this field of memories. For all of posterity I am proud to list the teammates who joined Clayton at Hewitt.

The 1926 Hewitt High School team roster.
Guy Fitzpatrick Clayton Micklewright
Ben Clayton Jerry Morrow
Ralph Clayton Claude (C.M.) McClendon
Britt Massey Berlie Taylor
Oscar Kennaman Ted Martin
Leslie Robinson Paul Bradford Sr.
Bobby Burns Baxter McDonal
Ab Leslie

The bright lights of a stadium may never shine down on this playing field but brilliant memories will never dim. More than likely this field will one day be center of attention once again as a parking lot for a large shopping mall.

By the way if you are ever are fortunate enough to meet someone who played ball in Micklewrights pasture shake their hand. Invite them to visit a spell for their upbringing and heritage speaks volumes as to their character and being plain down home folks.

May I share one other short and to the point story? Training beginning baseball players one item of importance is to make sure the youngster is well grounded in being able to overcome the natural fright of the ball hurting them. As a small fry youngun playing baseball in Micklewrights pasture a ball thrown too close hit me square in the back.

Being little I was not seasoned enough to simply back away or fall backwards out from the plate. I simply froze and turned my back to the ball. Bingo it hit just right to knock my breath out. If I ever overcome this fear totally I'm not sure? I relate this getting hit with the ball in and effort to impress upon dads and all coaches the need to take a lesson Learned in Micklewrights pasture and use it as a teaching thought.

Batter Up! Let's Play Ball...

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