Darga?s honored for years of dedication to Little League
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Mike and Judy Darga have been involved with the Little League program in Rogers City for many years. For the dedication they have shown over the years, they have been named grand marshals of the 2010 Little League opening day parade to be held Saturday at noon beginning at the Grambau Center and proceeding down to the ball fields via Third Street.
Once arriving at the fields opening day, ceremonies will be held with the Darga?s to throw out the opening pitch and declare the season open with the simple words, ?play ball? before games begin at 1 p.m. Mike started in Little League as a player in 1965 and remembers being coached by Harvey Dullack for half a year of minors before moving up to play in the majors under coach Ivan Streich.
After his playing career was over, Mike began coaching in 1988 and coached until 2007. During that 19-year span he touched the lives of many young players, both on the baseball and softball field as their three sons, Tony, Ben and Nathan and daughter, Katie all went through the Little League program. Mike coached all-star teams as well and went to the state finals four times with all-star teams.
?I was surprised when I found out we were being chosen as the grand marshals. I am very excited about Saturday?s opener,? said Mike. During his many years of coaching, his wife Judy stood by as a team mom, who walked in many Little League parades during those years watching her children play ball and her husband coach. This time Judy won?t have to walk in that parade, as she will ride alongside her husband, under unusually nice weather.
Typically the weather on opening day is not too nice; however, the forecast for this year?s ceremony looks good with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60?s. When the couple?s youngest, Katie, was too old to play Little League, they began following the Huron softball team. Katie, a junior, who plays centerfield and pitches for the Hurons, and her parents were very well received at that level as Katie jumped up to the varsity as a sophomore and Mike and Jud
Not only does he feed the softball team but he now feeds the baseball team as well. Money was collected from parents at the beginning of the season to help pay for the food and Mike makes a wide variety of dishes for the teams to enjoy. They have had lasagna, chicken alfredo, quesadillas, pizza, and many more nice meals. ?After Katie graduates, we hope to get involved again. I might coach but we hope to take over full time operation of the concession stand. It will give us something to do and allow us to stay totally involved with Little League,? said Mike.
Although he hasn?t officially coached since 2007 he has umpired and helped coach. Last year he was approached to coach the junior boys team, which he accepted; but because there wasn?t enough players, they did not have a season. As the young players in Rogers City and Posen gear up for the beginning of their Little League season this weekend, they will be doing so with one dedicated supporter declaring the season open and leading the parade through town.