YATES WRITES OUT PERFECT SCRIPT FOR CARDS' 1ST PITCH

Sometimes it pays to be a nice guy.

And it doesn't hurt being a good writer, either.

Pierce Yates, who said he always puts an emphasis on displaying good sportsmanship when he participates in sports, recently took second place in a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

For his essay titled "What Sportsmanship Means to Me," Yates will get to throw a ceremonial first pitch at Busch Stadium tonight when the Cardinals play host to the San Francisco Giants.

Yates, 14, entered the contest this past winter after hearing about it via the school announcements at Cape Central Junior High. He just completed the eighth grade.

The 312-word essay took Yates about 30-40 minutes to write and about 15-20 minutes to edit.

As a payoff for his hour of work, he and his family will get the royal treatment tonight at Busch. The Yates will get to watch the game from the Fox Broadcast Suite.

"I am really looking forward to throwing the first pitch," said Yates, "and hopefully meeting some of the players and announcers."

Yates, who participates in football, basketball and track and plays tennis on the side doesn't play baseball, but he is a big fan of the Cardinals.

"I'll probably just try to get it there," he said of the first pitch. "My goal is to just get it to the catcher."

But it wasn't like Pierce entered just so he could throw the first pitch.

"I had no idea of the prize," he said. "I had won a few essay contests before so I just wrote an essay and turned it in."

Previously, Yates won honorable mention on a poem he wrote in a SEMO writing contest. A short story he wrote also won a contest sponsored by the library.

Sportsmanship is something that Yates seemed genuinely concerned about.

"I always try to be a good influence to everyone else," said Yates. "And I always try to follow the rules."

Among professional athletes, Yates mentioned Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as displaying good sportsmanship in their famous home-run chase in 1998.

He also said he liked the way Kobe Bryant conducted himself this past season en route to an NBA championship.

Yates has seen his fair share of rudeness in his own experiences, "especially in football. When somebody tackles you, they push off on you and try to intimidate you," he said.

Yates' essay was selected first among several entries at his school. From there, he won at the district level and took second place in the state contest as a runner-up to Matthew Epperly of Cairo.

The contest was judged by the MSHSAA's Sportsmanship/Citizenship Committee. It was the first year for this contest.

"The contest was initiated to further promote awareness and create excitement about sportsmanship at the middle school and junior high level," said MSHSAA Communications Director Rick Kindhart. "In the past 18 months, the MSHAA has dramatically stepped up its efforts to promote sportsmanship at all levels. The junior high essay contest is a great way to tell students that building character and citizenship skills through athletics is very important at the high school and junior high levels. Learning about respect, teamwork and enjoying the game those are the things we're striving for in our school programs and they're things that can easily get lost in the messages young people often get from sports today."

SPORTSMANSHIP ESSAY

A person who has the attributes of good sportsmanship is one who is fair, generous, a good loser, and a gracious winner. Sportsmanship means that one should set a good example and be a good role model in all sporting events. A good sportsman also has a positive and uplifting attitude. In fact, attitude is the key factor in sportsmanship and in any sport one plays.

Sportsmanship affects how one plays as well as how others play because of the way you can influence other's attitudes.

One example of good sportsmanship takes place when a football player has just made a bone crushing tackle of an opposing player and then helps him up and pats him on the back in a sincere way. He doesn't taunt or make fun of him, but shows appreciation for the effort given by the opposing player. A good sportsman has respect not only for the opposing player or team, but also for the game itself, and always follows the rules.

Good sportsmanship is important because it makes the game more fun for everyone involved.

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are responsible for keeping sports fans glued to their TV sets as their race for the home run record continued until the last day of the 1998 season. During their quest, the competition was one of respect and admiration toward each other, with each player pulling and cheering for the other player to break the home run record. To me, the competition between those two players defines sportsmanship.

After the game is over, win, lose, or draw, a good sportsman acts with dignity, respect, and appreciation for the opposing team or player. By doing this, it makes the game more enjoyable and a positive experience for everyone involved. No one is left ashamed or overly proud of their participation.

Pierce Yates

Cape Girardeau