Gators assistant coach Craig Bell is living out a father's dream
Monday, June 18, 2012 | Baseball, Football, Scott Carter
Gators assistant coach Craig Bell talks to third baseman Josh Tobias during Saturday's CWS game.
OMAHA, Neb. -- Gators assistant baseball coach Craig Bell is enjoying the College World Series probably as much as anyone. His Father's Day on Sunday was special, too.
Bell brought along a favorite guest to Omaha. You might have seen him on the field at McKethan Stadium this season, or in the dugout on Saturday night during Florida's CWS game against South Carolina here at TD Ameritrade Park.
He's the youngest Gator on the team. His name is Kyle Bell, Craig's son and a catcher/pitcher for Kanapaha Middle School in Gainesville.
Kyle came to the CWS with his dad last year, too, but he was too young to be the team's batboy. He hoped the Gators would be back this year. Kyle celebrated his 13th birthday since last year's CWS and now he is with his dad in uniform when the Gators take the field.
"Last year he had to sit in the stands and watch,'' Craig said Sunday after Florida's practice at Creighton University. "He likes this a lot more."
The players treat Kyle as one of their own. On Sunday afternoon closer Austin Maddox checked out Kyle's coffee drink as they rode the elevator together at the team hotel.
Wherever the players are Kyle is usually not too far behind.
"Definitely having your son here and to be able to have him on the field to experience this is special,'' said Craig, in his fifth year on Kevin O'Sullivan's staff. "He loves baseball, he loves being around the guys. It's a great experience for him to learn and to watch and hopefully one day he's good enough to be in this position."
Craig coaches third base and often watches closely as Kyle runs onto the field to grab bats during games.
When the Gators are on defense father and son will often chat in the dugout. It's Baseball 101 at a very high level.
"He learns by just watching the guys do stuff,'' Craig said. "He'll make comments after practice or when he is doing some hitting in the cage, and he'll try this out because he saw one of the guys do it."
Look for Kyle on Monday afternoon when the Gators play Kent State. He'll be the kid living his dream. Kyle's dad will be, too.
