These are original letters as written or E-mailed by the players. I was humbled so much by the letters, that I created an entire area to share these with our families and our guests. It's wonderful to see our mission through the mind of a child. Of course, this is our website, serving our purpose as an organization, while we foster the advancement of amateur athletics, travel baseball, sportsmanship and our character initiatives.

The philosophy of the team has spawn the energy to motivate the players to think, analyze and care about life away from the field. While they likely receive these values in the home, there is something special about recognition and reiteration of those same values by mentors, teammates, and smaller groups where camaraderie surfaces.

Enjoy! I hope these letters also inspire other players on what I look for and what other children are doing to earn their seven rungs of character as well as earning LWP Medieval rewards, bonus guys and shields as displayed in the player bio section.

Respectfully yours,
Coach Steve Korbel


Hi dad it's Trey. I helped out with A.I. kids at school. A.I. means mentally challenged kids. I wanted to let you know because of Character Counts badges. We had to take turns. But I helped them for a month. I hope you have a good week, love Trey.


Coach Steve, I have done many things for the citizenship tag. I have raised money for diabetes. Today we were talking about the election in school and we are going to have a mock election in school on Monday. I protect the environment every day at school because we always recycle all paper. I also help the environment by putting things in the recycle bin at home. I am a good neighbor because if someone gets hurt i go ask them if they are okay and if they aren't i go get the closest parent that i can find for help. I was wondering if i would get the citizenship tag for this.
From,
Brett Dawson #3

For the caring pillar i went door-to-door to collect donations for the diabetes and i raised $63.00. For the fairness tag during school we were playing football and i was on a team that was good and the teams were uneven so i went and joined the other team even though the team that i was on didn't want me to go to the other team but i said "i'm goin to the other team to make the teams fair."
Brett Dawson #3

Hi Coach it's Evan. how are you doing? My pullover is cool. I'm asking my teacher if my class can write letters to my cousin Michael and his Army unit. He is in Baghdad.
See you soon,
Evan

Coach,
I went to buy food for the hungry. If I was someone hungry I wish someone would do the same for me. Sometimes people can't afford to buy food.
by:
Anthony Lullo

Thank you dad. i'm so exited to get the CARING badge. I will see you on friday. love Trey

Hi Coach Korbel,
I received a Prairie Pride Award from school for helping the teacher in class. I always ask the teacher if she needs help when she seems like she needs help.
From Ryan Getz

Coach Steve-
I wanted to let you know I have been working on my character pillars. The first one is Caring, my sister has been sick since Saturday and she does not like to take her breathing treatments. I set up the machine for her and read her stories to help her feel better and have helped her with this a few more times. Next is Citizenship, my class is collecting items for PAWS, an animal shelter, and I have brought in plastic bowls, newspaper, and paper towels to donate. Next month my class is going to the shelter to drop off the donations. We also get to pet the dogs and cats when we visit. I am also collecting old books to donate to a school district that could pass these on to students who don't have books at home. My mom is helping me find a school to donate these to. Finally, I have written thank you notes to the people who sponsored the Prospects team under my name and I think this falls under Responsibility. My mom also will have me writing thank you notes for my birthday presents from this past weekend. Bye! (Yes my mom helped me write this because I don't type real well).
Jake Blount
#25

Dear Coach,
I got the award for exceeding and doing better and doing more than I am suppose to.
From, Anthony Lullo

Dear Coach,
Does it count that I am responsible for keeping my room clean, putting away my clothes, and feeding my cat? And I don't get paid. :-)
From,AnThOnY

For the responsability tag i spent the night at my grandma's house and i volunteered to cook pancakes for breakfast for my cousins, my brothers, my Aunt Dolly, and my grandma.at home most of the days i feed the dog and the fish.

For the caring tag i walked door-to-door and collected $56.00 for the walk for diabetes,at recess i cleaned up everything that was outside.
From Andrew Dawson

Coach Steve,
I went through all my old clothes and gave away two bags to Goodwill. I am also very responsible for doing my school work without being told by my parents. I am excited to play for the Prospects and I hope to have a great season. I will earn all 6 pillars.
Thank you, Michael Roat #10


Dear Coach Steve,
I believe I've completed my Caring pillar for Prospects. I enjoy playing hockey. Hockey is a team sport. Whenever my teammates get down, I try to make them feel better. Our goalie Robert sometimes lets goals get past and it makes him sad. If I am on the ice, I always go and pat him on the back, and tell him "It's okay, don't worry about it". [...]
Thanks,
Ryan Kaup #11

Dear Coach Steve,
I believe I've achieved my Responsibility badge for Prospects. [...]
When I get home from school, I'm the first one home, and I have to let both the dogs out, and clean up whatever messes they've made. I get a snack and sit down and do my homework. [...]
Thanks,
Ryan Kaup #11

I helped my mom type this letter [refers to letter sent to family and friends for gift drive] and sent it out to my family and friends. I also walked around to the neighbors and gave them a letter.
Zach

Hey dad it's Trey.
For the responsibility badge i help feed the dogs and i let them outside.
Also for citizenship i picked up garbage that people threw on the ground on my block. bye

Hi coach,
Just wanted to let you know that over the weekend i gathered up some of my old coats to give to the coat drive. I also took some of my old books and gave them to the Chicago Work Management book drive. I'm helping my mom because she has a sore back.
See you soon,
Evan

I had to be responsible for the last 2 months to write how many minutes I read for my book it. You have to read three hundred minutes for the book it. You have to read 300 minutes in one month and so far I have read 210 minutes.
Kyle Knodel

I'm giving three dollars to the program Angels in the Tree. It's for kids that won't be getting presents this year but now they will.
Kyle Knodel

I got three stars. If you get a star it means you did something good. The first one was for helping a kid get the nurse. The second star was for sitting quietly. The third one was helping the teacher.
Kyle Knodel #20

Hi Coach,
Last night at CCD my teacher picked kids for a game. She picked me and 6 other kids but that was too many kids playing so I told her I would sit out so the other kids could play eventhough I really wanted to play the game.
Ryan Getz #12

Hi Coach,
I forgot to tell you that I gave half of my candy from trick-or-treating to our troops in Iraq and to the kids in Iraq. My neighbor is in Girl Scouts and she said they were sending candy to our troops so I went home and got my candy to give to them to send.
Ryan Getz #12

Coach Steve,
My teacher Mrs. v before school has me setting up and updating our class laptops...she trusts me to do this job for my class... I think it is trust and responsibility...
from 25 jake blount

Hi coach,
When I was playing kickball at school the teams were unfair so I volunteered to go to the other team to make it fair and we won. this is for the fairness pillar
see you soon
from Evan

Coach Steve
for the respect tag i was at library today with brett and my friend kyler [...] . it was our class libary day, our class was in the libary and after libray class was over and everyone but us three were sitll in the libray checking our books out. then we noticed that some kids in our class left their 8-pocket folder in the libray so we brang a total of 9 folders back to the classroom so we each brought 3 folders back the classroom.so i think me and Brett should get the respect tag. because instead of them going back to get their folders.
Andrew

Did you get my e-mail about the trustworthiness pillar?Just wondering.
From,
Brett#3

For the trustworthiness pillar i never cheat never cheat no matter what.And i always do what i say i will do and i am always honest.
From,
Brett#3

Hi Coach,
I've earned my trust pillar. I've been staying home alone and don't get in trouble or do things i should not do. also my grandma went on vacation and i am taking care of her cats and she loves her cats.
thanks ryan 11

On Jakes profile it says he got the responsibility pillar for writing thank you letters to sponsors.The responsibility pillar isn't lit up though.
From,
Brett#3

Hey Dad,
It's Trey. I love you and I was hoping we had practice today.
Trey #8

I love you dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You forgot to say flip today at practice.
love, Trey

Hi Coach,
I found a full can of bud lite on the neighbors grass so I picked it up and dumped it down the drain and threw it in the garbage. I didn't want a kid to finde it and drink it.
From Ryan Getz #12

For the respect pillar at school my friend at school got in trouble and he owed our teacher 5$ in class money [refers to school play money]. And i gave him 5$ of my school money to him and i said you dont have to owe me 5$ class money.
From Brett

did you get my e-mail about the trust pillar and my trip to Iowa?
From,Brett#3

Thanks coach this is awesome. [refers to Prospects Web Mail for players].
Thanks for the lesson too I will be practicing the triangle, rocks and knee to knee.
Evan

I found all the tyrkeys [refers to Prospects' On-line Turkey Hunt for Thanksgiving]. but i waited till now to e-mail you and i have been e-mailing people on our team if they neeed help.
andrew

Hi Coach,
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
I wanted to tell you that at tag day I helped an older lady put groceriea in her car. Also, a man came out of the store and stuff fell out of the cart and I helped him pick up the stuff.
Have a great day.
#12 Ryan Getz

Coach,
For my citizenship pillar I have been helping my elderly neighbor by taking his dog for a walk, getting his mail and newspaper.
Thanks,
Anthony

Hi Coach,
I just wanted to tell you that i helped my Dad shovel the snow at my house and my Grandma's house without being asked. i also got Book It reading awards 2 months in a row i read 615 minutes. I think that the pillar is responsibility.
I also got a Prairie Pride Award for doing more and doing it better and always exceeding expectations this one is for Trustworthiness.
See you soon
Evan

Coach Korbel-
As I was hunting for turkeys, I saw I did't get another good guy for giving you my last report card at our last practice. I just wanted to make sure you have it. Thanks.
Jake Blount #25

Hi Coach Steve,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been working hard on my pillars. Over the weekend while helping my dad at the autograph show, I seen a person drop all of their stuff. I went over and helped him pick everything up without smudging any of his autographs. I also helped out my dad and his friends by getting their autographs for them while they were working. At school today I cleaned up the carpet because it is my job to help keep the room clean. i also shared my markers and erasers with the kids that did not have any.
Thanks, Michael Roat #10

[Hand written in pencil on notebook paper]
My teacher gave me two more stars, which makes the total of 5 stars.
The last two stars I've gotten were for helping the teacher and the other one was for respecting the other class by letting them walk by.

I just wanted to let you know we had this thing in school called "Pro Kids." Pro stands for People-Respect-Others. They were talking about Character Counts. It was kind of cool that we were doing it on our baseball team [first].

I forgot to tell you that one of the bags I brought [...for Children's Memorial gift drive] had 25 gifts in it and all of those were mine and my sisters Christmas and birthday toys that we never used. I always don't ghet to sit with my friends at lunch so when I sit by other people at lunch I talk to them and try to make friends.
Kyle Knodel #20

Thanks Coach Steve,
My mom said she told you about the E I got in Art. I told her it was because I talk and work at the same time and other do not while we are in Art class.
Bye,
Anthony Durling 7-dog

Coach,
I've been working on my responsibility pillar. My grandpa has been in and out of the hospital since Thanksgiving and put into a place to get stronger. My mom has been very busy with helping my grandma take care of him so I have been making sure I have done all of the things around the house that need to be done. I've also done my homework and read for book-it before she asks because I know my mom is very busy.
Anthony

[Hand written on notebook paper about the Fairness Pillar]
Dear Coach Steve,
Thank you for the best email in the world. That is the best email I have ever had and, i just wanted to let you know I keep asking my gym teacher if i can be on the other team because Connor and I are the fastest runners in my class and we are the best at sports.
Thank you,
Michael Roat

Hi Coach,
I'm trying to get my last pillar and these are some of the things I'm responsible for at school and at home. At school I pass out papers, I'm bathroom monitor, I help do calendar and I'm line leader. At home I feed the fish, I help make breakfast, I help set the dinner table, I clean the basement, I clean my room, and I do my homework without being asked.
From Ryan Getz #12

Coach,
I have been working on my Respect Pillar. In school i listen to the teacher and principle i dont talk back in class and for indoor recess i follow the rules by not running or yelling.At home i dont go into my sisters room without knocking and i dont talk back to my mom and dad. At practice i bring dry shoes so i dont get the floors wet.
Evan

To Coach,
For the Fairness Tag, I take turns on the computer and on other video games. Also at school I take turns with answering the questions. The last thing that I did for the fairness tag is I take turns with my toys. Those are the things I did for the fairness tag.
Trey 8

hi coach
just a reminder i showed you a star i got from school for helping my teacher Mrs Ballerihi with the ugly witch wll we were doing in school.
-- Zach

Hi Coach,
You said to send you an email if we are owed anything. I showed you a bunch of progress reports, and I have some more for you. See you tonight.
From Getzy

For the triple pillar rank for fairness or respect at school someone asked to go to the library with a library pass and then i asked after him and there was one pass left but instead of running in front of him and getting the library pass before him {which other people do} i said you can go ahead and have it because you asked first. And my language arts teacher was very happy that i did that.
From,
Brett#3

Dear Coach Steve, I just wanted to let you know about my bonus guy and my lwp reward.
I LLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEE GETTING BONUS GUYS AND LWP REWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU,MICHAEL ROAT
#10 DOG

Hi coach,
I just wanted to let you know that in school we had a food drive for the New Lenox food pantry. I brought the most items 20 bags. The total was 416 items from my class and we won the pizza party because we brought in the most food out of all the classes.
Evan

[Hand written in pencil]
Dear Coach Steve.
I have been working on my 'rare knights.' I made my Mom breakfast in bed. I washed my Mom's car. I helped my parents carry in groceries. I am sorry for not turning in E-mails or hand written letters.
Thank you for teaching me so many things. You are the best coach I have ever had.
I hope I am doing good!
Thank you,
Michael Roat #10
10 dawg

At school for accelerated reader i came in 1st place out of the whole 4th grade. I got 606.9 points. Also in music i set a school record for the farthest 4th grader in recorder i finished all 9 of my belt songs and 8 of the 2nd degrre belts.Last, in gym i got a presidential award. To get a presidentail award you have to be able to do at least 5 pull ups more than 50 situps in a minute and run the mile in 9 minutes and 41 seconds. I ran the mile in 6 minutes and 39 seconds and i just missed the school record by 10 seconds.Also you have to do a shuttle run and get under 10.9 sec. I got 9.7 seconds and got all presidentail awards for each thing i'll bring the paper that i got and the badge to the game next week and i'll also bring the reading paper to you. I was wondering if i would get any rare knights or bonus guys for all that hard work.
From,
Brett(3dawg)

at school i came in 6th place out of the 4th grade with 306 points for Accelerated Reader. For gym i got a national award in physical testing.
your friend,
drew(14 dawg)

Coach-
Just letting you know I still need my off/def shield and my knights. I also wanted to let you know I received a 100% on my Japan country project and presentation. I also received another star for sharing my snack with my classmate. What time is it? GAME TIME!! See you Sat. (my mom helped me type this)
#25 Dog
ps Dad thought I got a bonus guy for every rbi!

Dear Coach Steve,
I just wanted to let you know I participated in a cancer walk. I walked 5 and a half times around the track.It helped raise money for cancer research.
Thank You,
Michael Roat #10
10 DAWG



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