Sterling's Finest Moment
Behind the gloom, a youthful bright light emerges ...
In the athletic lore of the city of Sterling, Ill. the color green symbolizes the opposite of
what's positive and successful.
What's more, a pile of green uniforms converging in a victory celebration usually
symbolizes a hugely disappointing feeling within anyone that bleeds the colors of blue and
gold.
That's your parents' Sterling.
However on Thursday, the pile of green uniforms converging in victory became the
greatest sight and crowning achievement in Sterling athletic lore.
The 11- and 12-year-old girls from Sterling, winners of the Little League Softball World
Series yesterday, cannot recall the bitter sports battles against their foes on the other
side of the Rock River.
Times have changed since these girls were born.
Furthermore, they cannot recall when Sterling was a busy and bustling city. They have no
recollection of jobs all over the place. They have no recollection of places such as
Northwestern Steel and Wire – or hearing its shift horns three times a day, Lawrence
Brothers, National Manufacturing, or when Frantz Manufacturing made garage doors and
toys.
Sterling's kids today never bought their toys at Emil's Toy Store downtown, or even
KayBee – its competitor at Northland Mall. They can't recall seeing a film at the Sterling
Theatre. Sterling's kids grew up with downtown half of what it used to be, and even grew
up with downtown's figurative replacement – Northland – pretty much empty.
In recent times, the fun has almost always been anywhere BUT Sterling. When Sterling
became less and less of what it used to be, the trips elsewhere became routine. By the
time these kids graduated high school, the declaration of “There's nothing to do in
Sterling” was heard often. These kids took the first train out of Sterling right after
commencement.
Sure, there are some that remain. They hope that one day the city they grew up in would
rise again from the depths. However, setback after setback after setback, and even
tragedy, was the norm ...
Until August 17, 2011.
Nearly a couple thousand miles away in Portland, Oregon a ray of light and a glimmer of
hope materialized from a softball competition.
Sterling, Illinois – World Champions.
Champions of the world. The city of Sterling gained recognizance in Texas, California,
Puerto Rico, Ontario, and even the Philippines and Italy. When the rest of the world thinks
of Sterling, it will be because of a championship softball team. That fact is further
strengthened with Sterling's 2008 third-place appearance in the same tournament.
When trying to figure out how a program like Sterling's is successful, several quality
attributes come to mind.
Quality coaching of how the game is played, and of handling the challenges of young girls.
Quality athletic facilities, and a park system, used to better prepare the girls for the road
ahead.
Quality supporters and businesses who have faith and invest in their future.
Quality schools and teachers, both public and private, who provide all of the tools for life's
journey.
Quality families who go the extra mile to see their kids become successful.
Sterling's win may have assured these statuses, thus going forward in trying to turn all of
the negatives upside down. Some wonder why this is such a big deal for Sterling. These
are key things that people look at when trying to determine a place of residence, all in a
time when an upswing is badly needed.
Only Maunabo, Puerto Rico (representing Latin America) boasts a smaller population
than Sterling and its outlying rural area. Everyone else has a plethora of people and
resources within their community, but they don't boast the community spirit that is only
found in the smaller cities. Community spirit has been rampant all over Sterling.
When people look at these points of quality, it was made possible by a group of young
softball-playing girls who became World Champions. These girls will forever be
remembered as those who put Sterling on the world map. Local histories wouldn't be
complete without mention of this recent accomplishment and the names of the girls and
coaching staff involved.
The best thing about this particular success is that these are 11- and 12-year-old girls.
They have plenty of time to learn, and plenty of life to live.
In essence, they are the root of the Sterling community. Now that they have solidified
themselves as role models for future generations of Sterling youth, they will now be asked
to continue this stride of success in more ways than playing the sport of softball. Not only
should they be there for the kids, when they are grown up they should be there for their
Sterling community. After all, it was the Sterling community that provided the foundation
for the successes they have achieved.
Never forget where you came from; it is the reason why you are who you are.
Here's hoping this new set of names remembers that bit of advice. Sterling moves forward
as these girls move forward and lay in a foundation that future generations can expand
upon.
Who knows what the future can hold with these girls as the backbone of Sterling's future.
Perhaps the sports business sees a potential site in Sterling? Revenue? Jobs? Perhaps
what they lay down can lead to the area becoming a place to enjoy, and even shop at?
No more “there's nothing to do in Sterling?” We'll find out. The key to ensuring Sterling's
prosperity is by making it appealing to its youth. The fewer the “nothing to do” statements
there are, the greater the chance of retaining its population. Most people today wish for
things to be brought back. However, since these girls have no recollection of our best bits
of history, the less pessimistic they are – and thus more optimistic.
Sure, give these girls an IDOT sign. However, that may not be enough. If all is successful,
give them a mural.
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat, a lifelong resident of
Sterling/Rock Falls, and writes columns about Illinois high school sports every Thursday.
He can be reached at Northernillinoissportsbeat (at) yahoo (dot) com. --- Talk about
what's written on our Message Boards!
what's positive and successful.
What's more, a pile of green uniforms converging in a victory celebration usually
symbolizes a hugely disappointing feeling within anyone that bleeds the colors of blue and
gold.
That's your parents' Sterling.
However on Thursday, the pile of green uniforms converging in victory became the
greatest sight and crowning achievement in Sterling athletic lore.
The 11- and 12-year-old girls from Sterling, winners of the Little League Softball World
Series yesterday, cannot recall the bitter sports battles against their foes on the other
side of the Rock River.
Times have changed since these girls were born.
Furthermore, they cannot recall when Sterling was a busy and bustling city. They have no
recollection of jobs all over the place. They have no recollection of places such as
Northwestern Steel and Wire – or hearing its shift horns three times a day, Lawrence
Brothers, National Manufacturing, or when Frantz Manufacturing made garage doors and
toys.
Sterling's kids today never bought their toys at Emil's Toy Store downtown, or even
KayBee – its competitor at Northland Mall. They can't recall seeing a film at the Sterling
Theatre. Sterling's kids grew up with downtown half of what it used to be, and even grew
up with downtown's figurative replacement – Northland – pretty much empty.
In recent times, the fun has almost always been anywhere BUT Sterling. When Sterling
became less and less of what it used to be, the trips elsewhere became routine. By the
time these kids graduated high school, the declaration of “There's nothing to do in
Sterling” was heard often. These kids took the first train out of Sterling right after
commencement.
Sure, there are some that remain. They hope that one day the city they grew up in would
rise again from the depths. However, setback after setback after setback, and even
tragedy, was the norm ...
Until August 17, 2011.
Nearly a couple thousand miles away in Portland, Oregon a ray of light and a glimmer of
hope materialized from a softball competition.
Sterling, Illinois – World Champions.
Champions of the world. The city of Sterling gained recognizance in Texas, California,
Puerto Rico, Ontario, and even the Philippines and Italy. When the rest of the world thinks
of Sterling, it will be because of a championship softball team. That fact is further
strengthened with Sterling's 2008 third-place appearance in the same tournament.
When trying to figure out how a program like Sterling's is successful, several quality
attributes come to mind.
Quality coaching of how the game is played, and of handling the challenges of young girls.
Quality athletic facilities, and a park system, used to better prepare the girls for the road
ahead.
Quality supporters and businesses who have faith and invest in their future.
Quality schools and teachers, both public and private, who provide all of the tools for life's
journey.
Quality families who go the extra mile to see their kids become successful.
Sterling's win may have assured these statuses, thus going forward in trying to turn all of
the negatives upside down. Some wonder why this is such a big deal for Sterling. These
are key things that people look at when trying to determine a place of residence, all in a
time when an upswing is badly needed.
Only Maunabo, Puerto Rico (representing Latin America) boasts a smaller population
than Sterling and its outlying rural area. Everyone else has a plethora of people and
resources within their community, but they don't boast the community spirit that is only
found in the smaller cities. Community spirit has been rampant all over Sterling.
When people look at these points of quality, it was made possible by a group of young
softball-playing girls who became World Champions. These girls will forever be
remembered as those who put Sterling on the world map. Local histories wouldn't be
complete without mention of this recent accomplishment and the names of the girls and
coaching staff involved.
The best thing about this particular success is that these are 11- and 12-year-old girls.
They have plenty of time to learn, and plenty of life to live.
In essence, they are the root of the Sterling community. Now that they have solidified
themselves as role models for future generations of Sterling youth, they will now be asked
to continue this stride of success in more ways than playing the sport of softball. Not only
should they be there for the kids, when they are grown up they should be there for their
Sterling community. After all, it was the Sterling community that provided the foundation
for the successes they have achieved.
Never forget where you came from; it is the reason why you are who you are.
Here's hoping this new set of names remembers that bit of advice. Sterling moves forward
as these girls move forward and lay in a foundation that future generations can expand
upon.
Who knows what the future can hold with these girls as the backbone of Sterling's future.
Perhaps the sports business sees a potential site in Sterling? Revenue? Jobs? Perhaps
what they lay down can lead to the area becoming a place to enjoy, and even shop at?
No more “there's nothing to do in Sterling?” We'll find out. The key to ensuring Sterling's
prosperity is by making it appealing to its youth. The fewer the “nothing to do” statements
there are, the greater the chance of retaining its population. Most people today wish for
things to be brought back. However, since these girls have no recollection of our best bits
of history, the less pessimistic they are – and thus more optimistic.
Sure, give these girls an IDOT sign. However, that may not be enough. If all is successful,
give them a mural.
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat, a lifelong resident of
Sterling/Rock Falls, and writes columns about Illinois high school sports every Thursday.
He can be reached at Northernillinoissportsbeat (at) yahoo (dot) com. --- Talk about
what's written on our Message Boards!
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