8:10 on a summer's evening, a small cluster of boys take fielding practice under the tutelage of retired player, Billy Wagner. Life after MLB consists of finding a way to live meaningfully for the next 50 years. For Billy, coaching his sons and other boys in town is a big focus, as is helping a childhood friend fundraise for a charity, Second Chance, for at-risk youth.
The first fundraiser concert called Two Virginias (venue was Bluefield, WV, just across the border from Bluefield, VA, concluded successfully Saturday night. Six bands played and the normally soft-spoken Wagner gave a heartwarming speech to a sold-out crowd.The event was a success and there are plans to turn the concert into an annual event.
Meanwhile, he coaches the boys in the gathering dark, just like any other father who dreams of their sons in the Bigs some day.
