Miracle players thank dads for playing important roles

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

The fathers of many of the Fort Myers Miracle baseball players used baseball as a tool to bond with their sons.

Today -- Father's Day -- many of the Miracle players said they would take the time to call their fathers -- to thank them for helping them reach the Class A minor league level, a level of professional baseball that's just three promotions from reaching the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins.

"Whatever I needed to work on, he would be there for me," third baseman Matt Moses said of his father Jerry Moses. "He was my coach in Little League. He's the coach that everybody wants. He's that good. He knows a lot of stuff."

Said Jerry Moses: "You wouldn't have baseball without dads, not to try to pat myself on the back.

"It really is that way, because it's such a technical sport."

In honor of Father's Day, here's a look at how some fathers made an impact in the young lives of the Miracle players:

Kyle Phillips, catcher

"My dad played ball, and growing up, it was something we were always around," said Phillips, whose brother, Jason Phillips, plays catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Their father, Clyde Phillips, played professional softball.

"I remember my mom and dad, dragging us into the house, because we were outside playing whiffle ball," Kyle Phillips said. "He was one of the first softball players to get an endorsement contract with Nike. He also had contracts with Franklin and Louisville Slugger.

"He even designed his own softball bat. He was a big influence on me and my brother.

"He taught me not only about the game of baseball, but about the game of life. He's not only my father, but my best friend as well.

"I'm very grateful. Some people don't have a father in their lives. I have to take advantage of that."

Errol Simonitsch, starting pitcher

"My dad never played baseball. He was more into soccer."

That changed after his father, also named Errol, began coaching him.

"He coached me from when I was 6 until I was 14. He coached all of my teams -- T-ball, Babe Ruth, Little League. He's done all of that. He coached my brother as well. Up until high school, he was the only coach I ever had.

"He has always supported me and been there to help. Because of him and my mom, I never got sick of it or tired of the game. They are the ones who influenced me to work hard and be the best I can be.

"I always remember the teams my dad has coached and all of the things he has helped me with.

"Because of him, I am here."

Felix Molina, infielder

"My father played baseball in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates and then for the Twins," Molina said of his father, Norberto Molina, now 48 and living in Puerto Rico.

"He taught me a lot," Felix Molina said. "He gave me a plastic bat when I was 3 years old.

"My first five years, I was a lefty. Then he changed me, because he wanted me to be a middle infielder."

On Felix Molina's fifth birthday, Norberto Molina gave him a right-handed glove, and the conversion began.

"Now I can throw normal," Felix said. "I'm a shortstop. Thanks to him, shortstop is what I can play."

Ron Perodin, outfielder

"He taught me how to play baseball when I was 3 years old," Perodin said of his father, also named Ron Perodin. "He'd throw little whiffle balls at me. I remember that like it was yesterday.

"He always gives me confidence. He's done a lot for me. He leads me, and he guides me through everything in life.

"If I was down, he'd always find a way to keep me going.

"Without him, I wouldn't be here right now."

Scott Whitrock, outfielder

"He was always at every practice, from Little League, all the way up," Whitrock said of his father, Bob Whitrock. "There's a lot of parents out there who are always yelling at their kids. My dad was always quiet. He'd go watch from the corner.

"But he was always there."