This cache was originally placed by Master Sergeant USMC and then maintained by CommanderUSN before jones farm took over in November 2023. The original cache details appear below.
Throw the ball with your kids; take some at bats; watch the Middleton planes take off and then walk the path to the other cache in the area. Good idea to bring a pen.
About the field ...
With the start of the 2002 season it was decided by the MIddleton Home Talent team members to dedicate the season to Steve Adler. Steve was diagnosed, had surgery, and was treated for a brain tumor from May of 2001. He was a former player who was member of the championship teams of the 1970’s, a past member of the Middleton Baseball Commission, and a great supporter of not only the Middleton Home Talent baseball team, but of other Home Talent teams in the Middleton vicinity. He battled his illness like the competitor he was, but sadly died on July 20th during the course of the 2002 season. He will be remembered for his many contributions to the sport of baseball in the Middleton community.
With a rookie manager, a few veterans, and huge number of new young players without Home Talent experience the 2002 season was approached with guarded optimism. An opening day win got the team of to a good start. Over the course of the next nine games the team would record four wins against five losses. The next game played on July 4th was a tough extra inning loss that now showed the team with a disappointing record of five and six, and in danger of not making the playoffs. After a team meeting following that game no one could have predicted what was in store for the rest of the season.
The team went on to win the next two games getting them back over the .500 mark. The day before our game on July 21st our great friend and supporter Steve Adler died. It was an emotional time playing that game which was against one of our chief rivals in Cross Plains. A moment of silence was held before the game, and a jersey was hung behind the bench in Steve’s honor. The team won that game by a score of 8-2, and the victory assured us of a playoff spot. We proceeded to win the last two regular season games, so ended the regular season with a ten and six record and a five game winning streak.
The team went on to sweep all the Northern section playoff games, which earned them a spot in the Championship series. They also swept all the games in the Championship series and went onto win the 2002 Home Talent Championship. After that July 4th game the team did not lose another game and finished the season with an eleven game winning streak and an overall season record of sixteen and six.
It was a season that was full of many of life’s experiences, which will bond the members of this team forever. It was an accomplishment they’ll never forget, especially the younger players experiencing this for the first time. It was also a memorable season for the fans and community as well.