Jul 4, 2006 6:18 pm US/Eastern
Little League Coaches Share Decades Of Experience
by Steve Burton
SWAMPSCOTT (CBS4) ―
When you think of baseball heroes, most of us think Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, even David Ortiz. But, the town of Swampscott has its own baseball heroes. They are two men who have spent more than 50 years using a game they love to teach a lesson in life.
Little leaguers from Swampscott have something kids in other towns don't.
They have Andy Holmes and Al Duratti.
At ages 81 and 71 Andy and Al have been coaching little league since Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House.
They have nurtured hundreds of kids over the years with two very different coaching styles.
Al is soft spoken.
Andy, you can hear clear across the field.
"He's a little more exuberant at times," Al says of Andy. "In other words, I got a big mouth!" Andy chimes in.
What they have in common is a love of this game and an appreciation of how one person with a bat and a ball can make a difference.
Scott Faulkner now coaches with Al, but back in the 60's he played for Andy.
"There's no question about it," said Scott, "they are absolutely heroes."
Holmes and Duratti have coached three generations of little leaguers in Swampscott. While many of the locals consider them heroes, these guys say they are just doing what they love.
"I really think it's been wonderful to mold the boys, have it be fun for them," said Al.
"It's been an awful lot of fun," said Anyd. "I'm gonna miss it when I can't do it anymore."
Neither coach will talk about their plans for retirement, and that's ok with their players.
"He's the best coach in the whole league," one player told us.
In the meantime, Andy Holmes and Al Duratti will continue to share their time and their love of America's favorite past-time with the children of Swampscott.
"These are the real every day heroes that we need more of in this world," one mom said. "They are great guys."
They have won many championships, but neither has made it to the little league world series. Never say never.
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