Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Wednesday, September 01, 2010

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Principal Joel Katte and PTA Vice President Jesi Bowman greeted families outside Applebee's Park on Meadowthorpe Spirit Night.

At Meadowthorpe Elementary, one of the new principal’s first pitches was urging the kids to set tangible goals.

“Everybody’s got to have a dream. We work hard every day to have a chance at achieving those dreams,” said Joel Katte, whose staff is using the book “The Leader in Me” to encourage students. “When I was growing up, I wanted to be a Major League Baseball player,” he noted.

Dozens of Meadowthorpe families caught a glimpse of that side of him as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Legends game Tuesday night. Later, in the bottom of the third, he went live on the team’s radio show to talk about how baseball has shaped his life.

Katte, who grew up a Brewers fan, played a year of minor league ball in Arizona with the California Angels organization. He’s also coached a high school team and still played competitive baseball in summer leagues until the recent move to Lexington.

His guest appearance on the mound at Applebee’s Park was a highlight of Spirit Night, coordinated by the school’s PTA.

“Meadowthorpe has a real special family atmosphere, and people are very connected. To hang out and enjoy a ballgame together will certainly add to the school community we’re building here,” said Katte, who played second base in the minors.

The PTA organized Spirit Night not only to welcome Katte to the community but also to show students that their teachers are “real people,” too.

“They do more than just teach. They have families and come out and have a good time,” said PTA President Andrea McCubbin.

In a partnership with the home team, the PTA sold nearly 200 tickets and cleared about $600 for its general fund.

“The Lexington Legends have really reached out to help make this successful for us,” McCubbin said of the fundraising effort.

Before game time, Katte mingled with students and parents outside the ballpark and warmed up his arm.

“Hopefully I won’t bounce it now,” he said after some pitch-and-catch with a fourth-grader.

Later, as he waited near the third-base line for his big moment, Katte marveled at the team’s facilities. While he still longs to play ball, he realizes – as did Doc in the movie “Field of Dreams” – that things have turned out for the best.

“It’s pretty awesome work for me,” he said of becoming a teacher and a principal. “It was meant to be.”