Cooper Wilson Gets His Start in Baseball with Capitol Little League

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By Gail Wood

capitol little league
Cooper Wilson joined Capitol Little League in 2006. He went on to play four years of baseball for Tumwater High School.

No matter where Cooper Wilson has gone in his life, he’s always had this attraction to baseball.

When he was 8 years old growing up in Tumwater, he was playing soccer, fulfilling his mom’s request. But he had his mind on grounders and singles, watching kids play on an adjoining baseball field.

“My mom wanted me to play soccer because she played soccer at Western Washington University,” Cooper said. “I spent the whole time during soccer games just watching the baseball games being played.”

So, the soccer ball was shelved and, thanks to the Capitol Little League, Cooper picked up his baseball glove and played baseball. Now, as a senior at Whitworth University majoring in psychology, Cooper is once again lured by the sirens of baseball. He’s applied for a job with the Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball team that is affiliated with the Texas Rangers.

If he gets the job, he’ll start working this summer in the Indians’ ticket department. He’s excited about the prospect of working with a professional baseball team.

“Just getting to be able to keep working in baseball,” Wilson said. “I don’t know how else to describe it. It would be fun.”

capitol little league
Sign-ups for Capitol Little League are current underway.

As a kid, Cooper got that opportunity to scratch that baseball itch because of Capitol Little League.

“Capitol Little League meant being able to go out and have the chance to play baseball,” Cooper said.

Now, whenever he’s home during the summer from college, he’ll volunteer to umpire a couple of games. He feels an indebtedness to the league.

“Most of the people out there running it are volunteers,” Cooper said. “So the fact that they’re doing this on their own time just to give kids the opportunity to play is great.”

In the spring, the Capitol Little League, which was started in 1985, will begin its 31st season. The league’s goal is for kids ages 4 to 13 to grow. Last year, the league had about 300 players.

“We hope to grow the size of the league a little,” said Scott Carte, a board member and coach of his two sons’ teams.

Loris Gies is the new president of the Capitol Little League. Her husband, Russ, was among the original organizers of the league 30 years ago.

capitol little league
Cooper Wilson adored playing second and third base while part of the Capitol Little League.

“She’s a retired project manager from the state,” Carte said. “She stepped right in and is organizing things.”

Sign-ups for the Capitol Little League last until Feb. 7 with league play starting in March. Cost to play ranges from $90 for T-Ball to $185 for the minor and major leagues. This year Carte said the Capitol Little League is pushing the Challenger Division, which is for physically or mentally challenged kids.

Sign-up registration can be completed at the league’s website.

Wilson has lots of fond memories of his days playing second and third base in the Capitol Little League. He played those two positions throughout his four years at Tumwater High School, until his senior year when he made the varsity. With a two-year starter returning at second base, Wilson was willing to make a position change to play varsity. So, he asked his coach what position did he have the biggest need at.

“He said first base and catcher,” Wilson said. “So I chose catcher. I think we had like 12 seniors for nine spots. I knew I wasn’t going to beat out the guy at second.”

capitol little league
Last year, about 300 kids participated in Capitol Little League.

Even though he had never played the position, Wilson ended up starting at catcher and made second-team all-league. He had a strong season at the plate and batted a team-best .411. He wanted to play baseball in college, but he didn’t get any offers.

“I walked on at Whitworth,” he said. “But I didn’t make it.”

But, as Wilson has always done, he gave it a shot. Wanting something to do, he switched sports playing football for a minor league team in Spokane.

Wilson has always been someone who pulls for an underdog, which explains his support of the Seattle Mariners. He’s also a fan of the Boston Red Sox for two reasons.

“Growing up, I was kind of smaller,” said Wilson, who now stands about 6 foot and weighs 180 pounds. “I liked the guys like Johnny Damon and Dustin Petroia – scrappy little guys for Boston.”

Now, as Wilson approaches graduation from college, he looks toward the next chapter of his life. And, he’s hoping, it will include baseball with the Spokane Indians.

To learn more about Capitol Little League, click here.

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