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McClellan Comes Back To Hazelwood West to Throw Out 1st Pitch
BY RANDY GARDNER
There are so many athletes out there that dream everyday of making it to the big leagues. You can drive around the area almost every night and see hundreds of kids learning the game of baseball and just the same amount of parents out there wanting their kids to make it.
Kyle McClellan, a graduate of Hazelwood West in 2002, made it to the big show as a pitcher. After playing college ball and overcoming an injury, Kyle now is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. relief corp.
I talked to him on his day last Friday when he was honored by the West Wildcats. He is one of only three players from Hazelwood West to make it to the big leagues.
Al Nipper and Morgan Burkhart as the other two.
Kyle is a very down to earth guy that doesn’t take for granted his success. He mentioned that getting to the big leagues is hard but staying there is even harder. He still can’t believe that he drives to Busch Stadium every game and is there to play.
I also had a chance to talk to his mother Kathy ( a speech language pathologist at Hazelwood Central’s Early Children Center) and his father Terry who were at the game as he threw out the first pitch before the West vs. Central game. They are so proud of their son and they too cannot believe that they are going to the ballpark to see him pitch.
They said that they never pushed their son to play any sports. Kyle’s father mentioned that he is more proud of Kyle as a son than as a ballplayer. “He turned out to be a great man and son,” said Terry McClellan.
For me it was really cool to see a young hometown kid show others in the same situation that he was in just a few years ago. Stick with your dreams and continue to practice hard every day and you can make it. Kyle was also joined by many other teammates that he played with in high school, along with his brother Matt, who is one of the baseball coaches at Hazelwood West.
Kyle’s baseball logo will be hung on the outfield fence at Hazelwood West for all of the up and comers to see. To all of you athletes, reach for the stars, it can happen, never give up.
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