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Posted: 07/18/12

OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Above, Griffin Koester of Washington Township and Lisa Polley, the 2012 Romeo Peach Queen, pose with Detroit Tiger Quintin Berry on July 6. At right, from left, Polley's father Glen, Polley, Koester and Koester's father, Tim, check out the Fox Sports area at Comerica Park. Polley chose Koester to take to the baseball game as part of the goal of having more one-on-one time with local children.

(Photos courtesy of Lisa Polley)

Peach Queen treats local
student to Tigers game

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Being the Peach Queen means many things, from wearing elegant dresses and waving from parade floats to spending time helping non-profits.
       In this case, it meant giving one Washington Township sports fan a day he won't soon forget.
       Lisa Polley, the 2012 Peach Queen, said she wanted to have more one-on-one involvement with local children after being crowned as this year's Peach Festival royalty.
       As part of that goal, she spoke with the Detroit Tigers' chaplain, Jeff Totten, who helped hook her up with tickets to the July 6 game as well as a tour of Comerica Park.
       "It's more about making someone else's day, not my own," Polley said.
       She contacted the local elementary schools, asking for staff members to select any students they thought would enjoy attending the Tigers game.
       Of those selected, Polley chose Griffin Koester, 11, an Indian Hills Elementary student who will attend middle school this fall.
       Koester and his father, Tim, joined the Peach Queen and her father, Glen, as they took a tour of the park, checking out the press box, the Ernie Harwell Media Center and the field itself.
       They were able to meet with Tigers Quintin Berry, Don Kelly and first base coach Tom Brookens. Brookens then escorted them to the dugout, where Koester was able to meet players like Prince Fielder and Delmon Young and get a baseball signed.
       "It's pretty cool because not a lot of kids get to do that, I was excited about going there," Koester said.
       Once the tours were over, they took their seats in the suite and watched as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2, hanging around to watch the fireworks afterward.
       "(Polley) was nice and we got along and talked in the suite," Koester said. "I told her about all the stats."
       Polley said she learned a lot about baseball hanging out with Koester, and was grateful for the Tigers providing a good day.
       "All the baseball players were very genuine and it was fun going down there," she said.
       Ame Anargyros, Koester's mother, said they have raised Koester to not let his disability stand in the way of things. Despite dealing with the loss of an arm as well as being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and diabetes, she said Koester was humbled to have been chosen.
       "When he was given this he felt grateful because he doesn't think of himself different from his friends," Anargyros said.
       In fact, she said he has been on cloud nine since he came back from the game.
       "He is ear-to-ear beaming," Anargyros said.
       Aside from the baseball game, Polley has kept busy as the 2012 Peach Queen, selling raffle tickets at the Birmingham Country Club for the Children's Miracle Network golf outing as well as spending time at Royal Oak Beaumont's pediatric unit, where she also works as a nurse tech.