Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

To the Editor:

I’m giving a salute to an amazing man and coach – Chris Burby.

As a local photographer, I’ve had a front row seat at most of the baseball/softball games at the Ahoskie Sports Complex over the past two and one-half months. It’s there where I have watched Chris pour his heart and soul into our youth (boys and girls).

He does this endlessly, day in and day out. He must have coached five different teams this year because every day when I would go out to the ball fields he had on a different team shirt. On several occasions he would wear two different shirts (the same day) as he would coach his daughter’s team at 6 pm and then immediately coach his son’s team!

Last night (Wednesday, June 28), he was coaching the Ahoskie 8u girls All-Stars team and a young lady injured herself while attempting to catch a ball in the outfield. As soon as she started grimacing in agonizing pain he immediately trotted out onto the field to attend to her. I watched him as he consoled her until she got herself together. When they passed by me, he was constantly chatting words of encouragement to her and he continued and continued all the way back to the dugout.

I’m sure this young lady will always remember this night as I know that I will. When parents/grandparents and coaches ask me, “Do you ever get tired?”, “When do you ever rest?”, the short answer is.. I “never” will get tired of witnessing such acts of kindness! It’s what drives me.. it’s my purpose. And to think that I get to do it all over again today (Thursday, June 29). That’s priceless!!

William Anthony

Ahoskie