The writer, the contractor and the lawyer make it work when it comes to coaching the Norwalk 12-year-old Cal Ripken All-Stars. It is not easy, however, to juggle job responsibilities while on the road with the team.
Manager Sal Latella and his coaches, Phil Balunek and Tony Schwartz, spent 10 days in New Hampshire with the team en route to the New England Regional championship. The team leaves Thursday for Aberdeen, Md., for the Cal Ripken World Series. The championship game is Aug. 22. But the men say they love coaching, even if it means time away from their jobs.
"You know what, they're only 12 once,'' said Balunek, who is in the construction business and is the team's first base coach. "A couple of days in my life isn't going to make a difference. I'll make up for it later."
Schwartz runs a law practice in Norwalk. During the New England Regional, he traveled home and worked mornings and nights when the boys weren't playing. "I try to work bits and pieces every day, but I probably lost about three or four days of work,'' Schwartz said.
Latella, a screenwriter, works from home and has the most flexible schedule of all the coaches. It helps each coach that their clients realize the World Series is a rare opportunity. "I have clients that understand that I've been involved in baseball for years, so they're willing to cut me some slack,'' Schwartz said.
The men have tried to catch up on their work since the regional win. "Hopefully we'll be gone for another 10 days,'' Balunek said, "and take home another trophy."
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