Assistant coach Beckworth’s late son helps guide him
As Mike Beckworth walks, his son Danny helps guide him along every step.
Literally.
Beckworth, an Irmo, South Carolina assistant coach, lost his son Danny 14 years ago when he passed away in an ATV accident. Danny was 14 at the time but continues inspiring Mike who keeps helping Irmo’s 12-year-old all-stars reach unprecedented heights. Beckworth has tattoos on each ankle, displaying his basketball and baseball numbers.
Now he walks at the Little League World Series, Danny always in his mind and his heart. After suffering the harshest tragedy, Mike has offered his son quite a tribute and helped guide 12 Irmo players to Little League’s promised land.
“Mike Beckworth is one of the finest gentlemen you will ever meet,” Irmo Little League president Bobby Jensen said. “He loves these boys and everyone loves and respects him so much.”
At a dark time in his friend’s life, Casey Estridge asked Beckworth to help coach in the Irmo Little League. It was a move which changed both Beckworth’s and the league’s lives. Beckworth has stayed their ever since and Irmo has become one of South Carolina’s best Little Leagues on a regular basis.
Wherever he goes, Beckworth makes sure Danny leaves a mark. Before every game, he carves out the initials “DB-18” near the third-base dirt. He cannot see him, but it lets Beckworth know his son is there and what a tribute the Irmo team is giving him.
Irmo dethroned defending world champion Lake Mary, Florida, scoring five sixth-inning runs in a thrilling Southeast championship before reaching the Series and starting strong here. It’s a family-like bond Beckworth shares with the players and both have helped the other through difficult circumstances.
“It’s awesome how Little League has impacted his life and how he continues to give back to the kids,” Jensen said. “We have helped him and he certainly has helped us.”
In one sense, Beckworth does not have a child on the team, but in another way, he has 12. He has made an impact on each player and his ability to both communicate and teach has helped this particular group grow stronger each season.
Yes, the players do the heavy lifting. Beckworth cannot make the plays or swing the bat for them, but he has played a major role in them growing on and off the field, especially this summer. The same could be said about his impact upon his fellow coaches.
“Mike is special,” Irmo manager Dave Bogan said. “We appreciate him and his expertise. I value him because he’s not afraid to tell if me if my kid needs to do something different. I really value that opinion because it’s neutral. We’re lucky to have him.”
Beckworth has worn a lot of hats throughout his Little League coaching career. He’s a teacher, a calming presence, a straight shooter and an uplifter. All those qualities helped Irmo reach the Series for the first time and become just the second South Carolina team to reach this destination since 1950.
Beckworth can be a tactician with the best of the coaches, but it’s his human touch which also goes a long way. Coaching is not just about strategy, but about communicating and trying to maximize the players’ potential.
That is an area the where the Irmo players think Beckworth especially excels.
“How he interacts with us and how confident he is in us helps,” shortstop Preston Ware said after going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs in a 13-0 Series win against Massachusetts. “He’s very truthful with us and gives us advice on how we swing and stuff like that. It’s really helpful.”
“He motivates us a lot,” right fielder Ryder Tillitz said after going 1 for 1 with a walk in that win. “He says a couple of sentences and phrases that pumps us up. He gets us going.”
He can also settle them down, too, something especially important at this age. That is especially since regionals, when the games have been broadcast around the world, that this quality has been especially vital. Nerves can run high, but Beckworth can ease them and refocus the players.
His ability to do so played a major role against Massachusetts when Joe Giulietti battled butterflies as he prepared to bat with the bases loaded. A few words from Beckworth was the tonic he needed and Giulietti responded by walloping a game-breaking grand slam which put Irmo ahead, 8-0.
“When I was hitting with the bases loaded, he was helping me calm down a little bit,” Giulietti said. ” “My heart was racing a bit. He helps us a lot with that and settles us down.”
And keeps helping Irmo rise up. Anyone who has lost a loved one understands that each day is a challenge. All Beckworth can do is keep taking it step by step, knowing Danny continues impacting him upon this journey, shining the way forward.
And Beckworth continues helping Irmo’s players light up the Little League world.
“Mike embodies the Little League spirit,” Bogan said. “Mike’s a special person.”