The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
Today’s something good is as American as apple pie.
With Independence Day approaching, it seems appropriate to feature not only America’s pastime but an immigrant as well. High School student Sadaqat Safi is an immigrant from Afghanistan. He settled in Des Moines last year, then tried out for the Des Moines North High School baseball team this spring.
Head coach Alex Gauer told KCCI that Sadaqat turned up to the tryouts wearing sandals and had no cleats, glove, or even a hat. But the team’s policy is to turn no student away. And it’s a good thing they didn’t.
While Sadaqat had never even picked up a baseball, still doesn’t quite know all the rules, and there is a language barrier, he had played cricket and has a phenomenal talent. The coaching staff soon saw Sadaqat’s potential and put him on the mound, first as relief pitcher, then soon after as starting pitcher. He threw a complete game in his first start, striking out six batters and giving up only three runs.
Last week, in the rising freshman’s second start, only two months after first picking up a baseball, Sadaqat helped his North High Polar Bears break a 103-game losing streak when they beat Marshalltown 10-9. He threw three innings and was the winning pitcher.
Coach Gauer told KCCI about the joy Sadaqat exudes while on the field. “The joy on his face when he would run off the mound, and he would do a little jump and click his heels after you get done with the inning. It was like you haven’t seen a kid this happy.”
Catcher Teagan O’Brien spoke about overcoming the challenges of the language barrier he and Sadaqat have. “Whenever I’m behind the plate, we kind of have like telepathy. … I’ll put my glove up, get his attention, and then I’ll nod, say that I’m ready, he’ll nod, say he’s ready, and then game on.”
Sadaqat simply said, “I’m here excited to play baseball because baseball is good.”
The storyline is straight out of a movie but what Sadaqat has done is tap into the American Dream. That is something good. And so is baseball.
Now it’s your turn… Tell me something good!
