THE LATEST LINE: RON MICHEL LEFT HIS IMPRINT ON LOCAL SPORTS SCENE

The old saying goes that the good die young.

Ron Michel might not have been young when he passed away suddenly Monday after suffering a heart attack, although at 57 he certainly left this world way too soon.

But Ron was definitely young at heart. I guess that was the direct result of being involved for so many years in the game of baseball first as a talented player who pitched briefly in the minor leagues and for a long time with the Capahas, and then later as a local summer coach for many years.

A lot of people were saddened by Ron's totally unexpected death, and not just his immediate family, which he cherished deeply. The several hundred people who paid their respects at both the visitation and funeral -- each featured a virtual who's who of area baseball -- pointed out just how many lives Ron touched in a positive way.

I was one of those fortunate enough to count Ron as a good friend. I became acquainted with him almost immediately after I moved to Cape Girardeau and began working for the Southeast Missourian in the mid 1980s because he was a fixture at local high school and college baseball games.

For many of the early years that I knew Ron, he coached various summer youth teams as his several sons and daughters became quite accomplished athletes.

Then, in recent years, I became even closer to Ron as he got more and more involved with the Cape Girardeau American Legion baseball program, spending the past several summers as the squad's manager.

Much of my summer work load is spent at Capaha Field covering various levels of baseball, including the Cape Legion team. While at Legion games, I try to help out the program in any way possible, which means plenty of days and nights running the scoreboard and announcing the players as they come to bat.

For those summer months the last few years, Ron probably saw as much of me as he did his family. And, being single, I know I spent as much -- and probably more -- of my summer time around Ron than anybody else.

And I loved it. Ron knew his baseball, enjoyed talking about it -- along with other sports as well as just life in general -- and was a heck of a guy to boot. That's an awesome combination.

Several times a week during the last few summers, I looked forward to heading out to the ballpark early, sitting around the dugout shooting the breeze with Ron and the other coaches before the games and then doing the same thing after the games, until my deadline beckoned.

Those are some of the things I'll really miss. Even though Ron had already decided to give up his managerial duties with the Cape Legion program several months ago, I'm sure he would have still spent plenty of time at the ballpark. Baseball was simply in his blood. It was one of the great passions of his life, along with his family.

Ron didn't spend nearly enough time with us, but his years on earth were definitely meaningful. I know for a fact that countless people are much better off today for being coached and counseled by the good-natured man who always seemed to be wearing a big smile.

It's kind of ironic that a heart which gave so much to so many ultimately failed him, but if I know Ron, he's not bemoaning his bad fortune.

I'm sure he's looking down over his family and friends right now, trying to assure them that everything is going to be all right.

And I'm sure he can't wait for the baseball season to begin.

Rest in peace, big Ron.