Harlem senior gains Little League fans

He is only 17 years old, but one area high school senior has already amassed quite a following.

Tris-tan Scott, a student at Harlem High School, earned the admiration of a group of 11- and 12-year-olds when he worked as an assistant coach of their Little League baseball team last fall.

"I always wanted to do something with baseball, so I thought about coaching a Little League team," said Tristan, who helped coach the team as part of his senior project. "I called Patriots Park and asked if they could help me find a mentor and they led me to Dave Thompson."

Thompson, who has served as a little league coach with the same group of boys for the past seven years, said he was happy to help Tristan.

"I was really skeptical at first," said Thompson, who said he didn't want to serve as a mentor to a student looking for an easy out. "But I have nothing but accolades for him. He worked for whatever grade he'll get and I really hope he does well."

Tristan, who has played on the Harlem Bulldogs baseball team for the past four years, said he has been playing ball since he was 5 and started playing with the Columbia County Recreation Department. He even plans to go to college and play baseball in hopes of becoming a professional baseball player or a sports agent.

"The boys really took to him," said Thompson, who coaches the Marlins. "I have watched these boys grow and evolve, but Tristan got to them in a way that I couldn't. He's so good with the kids; he allowed them to rant and rave with him."

Logging more than 60 hours with the team, Thompson said it is the young man's likability that drew the kids and parents to him.

"My parents took a liking to Tristan," Thompson said. "It's hard to find good mentors nowadays. First and foremost, he really wanted them to learn more so than winning. He brought it down to their level. He did awesome.

"They can send me as many Tristans as they want," Thompson said.