Corey Spinner and his daughter Livia Spinner.
(Photo courtesy of The Sports Academy)
By Scott Brandenburg
LocalSportsJournal.com
Corey Spinner made a big impact on young baseball and softball players in the North Muskegon area over the last few years, including his own children, Levi and Livia Spinner.
Spinner died unexpectedly on Sept. 1, nine days before his 49th birthday.
Laurie LeMieux, who provided childcare for the two Spinner kids since they were born, saw Spinner’s passion and dedication first-hand. She organized a “Norse Out” to honor Spinner and support 10-year-old Livia at the Norse’s 12u softball game Sept. 8 at the Waterfront Sports Complex in which Livia played.
The turnout by the Norse community was impressive. The parking lot was full and many more spectators walked to the softball field from their houses.
“I love softball and I love the kids, and you know what Corey would want,” LeMieux said. “I wanted to do this for the caring of the kids. Corey loved the game, Liv loves the game. They loved it together, so I just thought, ‘Why not throw it out there to have more people come out to cheer Liv and these kids on?
“Corey was all about cheering for the kids. He always showed up, whether it was for his own kids or for other people’s kids. He was always showing up for them, so I thought, ‘Let’s get more people here to cheer Liv on in Corey’s memory.’”
The support came from the North Muskegon community, from all kinds of family, including cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents, as well as from Livia’s coaches.
“We wanted to do something special for the kids,” said Lemieux. “This was absolutely the turnout I expected. I’m very proud of the community for showing up. Corey was the dad of all dads. I’m glad they showed up for Liv because that’s what Corey was all about.”
The cheering started immediately. Livia, who leads off for the Norse, got plenty of cheers as she stepped into the batter’s box to start the Norse half of the inning.
Some families held up signs with her name on it, showing their support. She walked three times and scored two runs, earning even more applause.
The 10-year-old admitted she found the extra attention “a little embarrassing.”
For the record, Spinner and the Norse won the game against a team from Grand Haven, 10-3.
“(The community support) has been amazing,” said Brook Dow, Levi and Livia’s mom. “I was just telling my mom how much easier it is to grieve when you have this kind of community support.”
“It’s amazing,” echoed Dale Spinner, Corey’s dad and Livia’s grandpa, a Coopersville resident who regularly supports his grandkids in their sporting events. “Liv and Levi (who is 13 and plays baseball and football) are pretty good players. Corey kept them busy with all the sports. He was a good dad – a great dad, really.”
“This is totally awesome,” said Trudi Perry, Livia’s grandma. “I live in Wisconsin, and I drove here to watch the game and I think it’s just super. It’s got to help Livi’s healing, and the whole family I would think. I’ve been to many of her games, and the people have always been supportive no matter what the situation was. I think the coaches have been great through all of this.”
Livia plays for the Sabercats 11u travel softball team as well, and their coaches also came to support the Norse shortstop, who played last Tuesday even after her dad died because she thought it was what he would have wanted her to do.
“She’s definitely all-in, all the time,” Sabercats 11u coach Dave Lusk said. “She’s the youngest one on our team, and she plays everywhere on the field except for pitcher. She’s a great kid, very coachable, and loves sports.”
North Muskegon 12u coach Tom Leonard called the Norse Out “tremendous.”
Leonard said he’s going to miss Corey Spinner helping out with the team, as he did earlier this season.
LocalSportsJournal.com
Corey Spinner made a big impact on young baseball and softball players in the North Muskegon area over the last few years, including his own children, Levi and Livia Spinner.
Spinner died unexpectedly on Sept. 1, nine days before his 49th birthday.
Laurie LeMieux, who provided childcare for the two Spinner kids since they were born, saw Spinner’s passion and dedication first-hand. She organized a “Norse Out” to honor Spinner and support 10-year-old Livia at the Norse’s 12u softball game Sept. 8 at the Waterfront Sports Complex in which Livia played.
The turnout by the Norse community was impressive. The parking lot was full and many more spectators walked to the softball field from their houses.
“I love softball and I love the kids, and you know what Corey would want,” LeMieux said. “I wanted to do this for the caring of the kids. Corey loved the game, Liv loves the game. They loved it together, so I just thought, ‘Why not throw it out there to have more people come out to cheer Liv and these kids on?
“Corey was all about cheering for the kids. He always showed up, whether it was for his own kids or for other people’s kids. He was always showing up for them, so I thought, ‘Let’s get more people here to cheer Liv on in Corey’s memory.’”
The support came from the North Muskegon community, from all kinds of family, including cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents, as well as from Livia’s coaches.
“We wanted to do something special for the kids,” said Lemieux. “This was absolutely the turnout I expected. I’m very proud of the community for showing up. Corey was the dad of all dads. I’m glad they showed up for Liv because that’s what Corey was all about.”
The cheering started immediately. Livia, who leads off for the Norse, got plenty of cheers as she stepped into the batter’s box to start the Norse half of the inning.
Some families held up signs with her name on it, showing their support. She walked three times and scored two runs, earning even more applause.
The 10-year-old admitted she found the extra attention “a little embarrassing.”
For the record, Spinner and the Norse won the game against a team from Grand Haven, 10-3.
“(The community support) has been amazing,” said Brook Dow, Levi and Livia’s mom. “I was just telling my mom how much easier it is to grieve when you have this kind of community support.”
“It’s amazing,” echoed Dale Spinner, Corey’s dad and Livia’s grandpa, a Coopersville resident who regularly supports his grandkids in their sporting events. “Liv and Levi (who is 13 and plays baseball and football) are pretty good players. Corey kept them busy with all the sports. He was a good dad – a great dad, really.”
“This is totally awesome,” said Trudi Perry, Livia’s grandma. “I live in Wisconsin, and I drove here to watch the game and I think it’s just super. It’s got to help Livi’s healing, and the whole family I would think. I’ve been to many of her games, and the people have always been supportive no matter what the situation was. I think the coaches have been great through all of this.”
Livia plays for the Sabercats 11u travel softball team as well, and their coaches also came to support the Norse shortstop, who played last Tuesday even after her dad died because she thought it was what he would have wanted her to do.
“She’s definitely all-in, all the time,” Sabercats 11u coach Dave Lusk said. “She’s the youngest one on our team, and she plays everywhere on the field except for pitcher. She’s a great kid, very coachable, and loves sports.”
North Muskegon 12u coach Tom Leonard called the Norse Out “tremendous.”
Leonard said he’s going to miss Corey Spinner helping out with the team, as he did earlier this season.
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