10/21/2009
Written By: Aaron McFarland, Iowa Sports Connection Editor
Category: Pee Wee Sports  

DES MOINES -- Most people know how good the New York Yankees baseball team does each year. Most people do not know, however, how good the USA softball team is, what college the women played at, or just how good of athletes these softball players are. Kevin Ghee does and it’s what drives him to volunteer his time to help young women continue to play softball competitively.
  

An assistant coach of the MSA gold team of out of Des Moines, Kevin Ghee has been spoken highly of by many of his coaching counterparts. Garland Shirley, founder of MSA Softball and head coach of the MSA gold team, said, “He is one of only a hand full of parents that I know of that can cheer as sincerely for someone else’s child as he does for his own.  That ability makes it easy for him to help develop other kids to reach their full potential. Most often in the environment we compete in, coaches put teams together for the advancement of their own child or to promote themselves in some way. With our MSA softball program, it has always been about the players and he is a big part of that.”
  

Cheering for you own children. That’s where it started for Mr. Ghee. An avid baseball fan growing up, his love for the game translated into a love for softball when his oldest daughter became involved. Like most, Kevin didn’t know just how competitive the game was and how athletic these girls are. After diving into the world of softball, Kevin gained a respect for these young women that has driven him to volunteer hours upon hours of his time to help them prepare for the next level.
  

Like any other sport, there are so many opportunities for these girls to continue playing the sport they love and it’s Ghee’s priority to get them prepared. What he takes pride in during his coaching duties is seeing a young woman finding a college to continue her career and hopefully a scholarship to help ease the monetary aspect of continuing her education. Considering these girls are student-athletes, Ghee stresses academics just as much as informing them on all other aspects of gaining a scholarship. MSA is also making these ladies aware of how they present themselves, how they react to both wins and losses, and all that is involved in achieving their goals of playing college softball.
  

Ghee is involved with all that is encompassed in finding the right place to play including perfecting their game, showing true character, and knowing how to contact and interact with college coaches. It is gratifying for him to see the athletes he coaches to do well, but he also feels that it is his honor to be coaching these girls. “Each of these girls could be playing with some other organization or not playing at all. I try to keep a positive perspective on the game and make sure they don’t lose track of having fun while they are playing. It is a privilege to coach these girls and I thank their parents for letting me do so”, Ghee said.
  

A humble outlook from a coach that has been influential in helping young women better themselves at the sport they love and hopefully continue their softball careers beyond the high school level. Concerning continuing their careers, Ghee said, “There are so many opportunities for them to play at the next level. We try and get them prepared for all aspects of playing college softball and obtaining a scholarship. Interacting with coaches, how to get in contact with coaches, and conducting themselves in a positive manner on and off the field are all things these girls need to know.”
  

The reward of knowing he has helped these girls achieve their goals is what drives Kevin Ghee to continue volunteering his time with MSA softball. Ghee simply wants young women to never lose sight of the fact that this game is supposed to be fun and that there are many opportunities for them to continue playing. He does what he can to make sure the environment in which they are competing always stays positive and just like his love and appreciation for the game of baseball, Kevin Ghee is relaying the same passion for the game they love.