This is a tender story of how two people from entirely different backgrounds are now forever linked.
Though personal pitfalls and private anguish, these two individuals became more than just umpire and player. The umpire has been at this for quite a number of years, but nothing touched her more than witnessing the pride this young man displayed in attempting to be part of something that was near and dear to his heart.A seasoned veteran now in her 34th year of calling balls and strikes, Mary Hughes was seeking the right fit for an award she created in honor of her mother, Eileen Hughes. Mary lost Eileen last winter to lung cancer.
Mary wanted to keep her mother’s memory alive. Hence the state’s umpiring board – of which Mary is a member -- created the Eileen Cullen Hughes 10th Player Award. Given this award was being handed out for the first time, no criteria was set in stone.
Mary did have one request, and that was to seek out a high school-aged boy or girl who --  as she put it -- “doesn’t get much recognition. We wanted someone else to get a chance.”
Thanks to the recommendation of an umpiring colleague, Mary found her recipient. His name is Justin MacGregor, a junior on the varsity baseball team at Tolman High.
MacGregor is a special education student, though that has hardly stood in the way of him being a large part of something important in his life. MacGregor is a baseball fanatic, and judging by the multitude of roles he’s filled with manager Theo Murray’s club, this youngster has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“I love baseball so much,” MacGregor was saying one day last week, sitting on the bleachers outside of McConnon Field.
Mary Hughes caught wind that the honoree of an award designed to keep her mom’s legacy fresh was set to make his first-ever varsity start. That was a game Hughes wanted in the worst way to umpire.
After witnessing first-hand MacGregor in the heat of athletic competition, she wanted to chat for a few moments. With Murray standing right there, Hughes officially put a face to a name in right field of McCoy Stadium.
“I felt my mother’s presence was there when I met Justin,” said Hughes.
***
To fully grasp the powerful hold baseball has on MacGregor, you have to retrace the steps of last March. Tryouts were taking place at Jenks Middle School, which is where Murray first took notice of MacGregor.
“He was working hard. He showed up every day and gave everything he had,” remembers Murray. “His skill level wasn’t up to level we would have selected a player to be on the junior varsity or varsity team.
“So one of the days at the end of the workout, I pulled Justin aside. I offered him the opportunity to be with us as a team manager, to be around in any aspect he wanted.”
MacGregor spent the spring of 2007 exclusively on the JV. From shagging fly balls to carrying the medical kit, MacGregor performed the little roles that normally slip through the cracks.
“He’ll check the scorebook and yell which hitters are coming up,” said Murray.
Murray, however, wasn’t oblivious to the powerful hold baseball has over MacGregor. Murray quickly realized that simple tasks like helping out with the pitching chart allowed MacGregor to feel a sense of belonging.
A door was opened for MacGregor to get penciled into the lineup when Tolman’s Freshmen/JV team grew short on bodies. MacGregor ended up getting into a handful of games.        
At tryouts this past March, Murray presented MacGregor a choice: come up to work with the varsity or return to the JVs, albeit at a restricted level. The decision was a cinch for MacGregor, whose face lit up when the chance to ascend a level was steered his direction.         
Now MacGregor had reached the highest level, to which his roster spot and jersey number can proudly attest.
“I never played varsity before and always wanted to,” said MacGregor.
***
What helped MacGregor fit in as “one of the guys” is the result of the brave steps Murray took. Murray knew having MacGregor around on a day-to-day basis was going to present a challenge, but his message to the rest of the Tolman players was simple: Justin MacGregor is one of us.
Murray can’t quantify the impact MacGregor has had.
“This is a two-way street. This is a situation where we’re allowing Justin the opportunity to be a part of a team,” said Murray. “but what I found as the season progressed is that [having MacGregor around] has helped the team become better kids by appreciating differences.
“It’s been a benefit to Justin, but I think it’s been a bigger benefit the group of 16 kids on the varsity. They have become better kids.”
Athletes, particularly those at the high school level, tend to travel in packs. Their inner circle is so exclusive that it’s a rare sight to see these “cliques” welcome new members.
The way, though, that Murray made MacGregor a member of the Tigers club helped knock down some stereotypical barriers. Being a physical education teacher at Tolman, Murray reported with sincerity the rock star treatment MacGregor has received.
“There’s no stigma. These kids play other sports, so I’ve seen not only the baseball team become attracted to Justin, but I see all these athletes go up to him in the hallway and say ‘Hey Justin how’s it going?’ said Murray. “They might have looked at Justin differently at the beginning of the year, but that’s no longer the case.”
“It took a lot of courage on Theo’s part,” said Mary Hughes. “He’s thinking what’s best for the kid; you don’t see that too often.”
The players certainly appreciate having Justin around.
“He fits in and I think he likes it,” said Brent Elliott, a senior who provides rides for MacGregor to and from Tolman every day. “He’s one of us; he’s part of the team.”
MacGregor is appreciative.
“They’ve treated me nicely,” he said. “They’ve always respected me and try their best to make me happy. I would do the same for them.”
***
When Tolman and Fatima met April 23, Chuck Vermette was umpiring behind the plate. The score was getting out of hand (Tolman ended up winning 25-2) and Murray decided to insert MacGregor.
“I sent him out for warm-ups and told him there was a chance he might get in,” said Murray.
Vermette noticed the manner in which the Tolman players embraced MacGregor after he collected a fielder’s choice. When MacGregor touched the plate with the Tigers’ 20th run, all of his teammates were standing right there to greet him, acting as if he had just touched down with the winning run.
When the R.I. Umpire’s Association huddled together, Vermette spoke up when it came time to discuss the Eileen Hughes 10th Player Award. Mary Hughes was quickly sold on MacGregor’s story of triumph that she quickly ended the nominating process.
“He’s hung in there in a pretty competitive situation,” said Mary Hughes.
The second encounter between Fatima and Tolman took place May 15 inside McCoy. This time Murray gave MacGregor enough advance notice that he was able to spread word to his friends and family that he would be starting.
“I told everyone I was starting; I was very excited,” said MacGregor.
“He had quite a crew of people,” said Murray.
 MacGregor reached base twice (walk, hit by pitch) and scored once. More memories were created when the young man afterwards met the umpire who thought a great deal of him. Along with Murray, MacGregor and Hughes posed for several pictures.
“I was happy to see the person who was giving me this award,” said MacGregor.
***
Following Tolman’s playoff game last Thursday against Central High, the players and coaches bused to Luigi’s Restaurant in Johnston so MacGregor could receive his honor.
“The players couldn’t have been happier to see one of their own get an award,” said Mary Hughes, a special education teacher at Westerly High.
“This award means a lot to me,” said MacGregor. “It’s from the state, so that makes it exciting. I’ve never gotten anything like this before.”
Justin MacGregor has plenty of time to carve out more images that surely will remain fresh as the years go by.
It’s going to be tough to top the warmness Mary Hughes has already shown this special teenager.