Times Observer Photo by Scott Kindberg Mike Sheesley, left, stands with his son, Maddox, in the press box at Diethrick Park during a rain delay Monday at the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series in Jamestown, N.Y. Mike played on the 1997 host team and his brother, Tim, played on the 1987 team. Maddox is playing on this year’s host team, the Jamestown Krusaders.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — The clippings are yellowed, but completely intact and archived in file folders in a drawer that sits in The Post-Journal’s sports department.

One folder reads, “BRWS 1987.”

The other is labeled, “BRWS 1997.”

A generation has passed since those newspaper articles first saw the light of day, but to Mike Sheesley of Frewsburg the memories from the Babe Ruth 13-15 and 16-18 World Series are as fresh as ever.

Because, well, playing in the national tournament at the ballpark on Falconer Street in Jamestown is a tradition for the Sheesleys.

Tim, the oldest son of George and JoAnne, was a catcher/pitcher for the host team in the 1987 13-15 World Series, while, a decade later, Mike was a pitcher/first baseman on Jamestown’s 16-18 team.

So imagine Mike’s feelings this week after watching his oldest son, Maddox, take the field for the Jamestown Krusaders — one of 10 teams playing in the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series at Diethrick Park.

And then add to it the fact that the squad has won its first two games — Monday night’s scheduled contest against Ohio Valley Region champion Eau Claire, Wisconsin was postponed to 8:30 a.m. today — and the 41-year-old married father of four is over the moon with excitement.

This coming from a man who, as a junior at Frewsburg Central School, threw a no-hitter in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship game, but was so mature beyond his years that he showed very little emotion after the final pitch.

But Mike can’t stop smiling now that Maddox has had a chance to play on Babe Ruth League Inc.’s biggest stage.

“I still take pride in it today, 25 years later,” Mike said. “Every time it comes up in conversation I share my experience, my story and, of course, everybody is interested in hearing that, especially with the tradition Jamestown has in hosting the World Series.

“I still have memories to this day of being on the field … with teammates and, hopefully, I can see that Maddox is getting the same experience and getting the same memories.”

Father and son paid a visit to the press box at Diethrick Park on Monday afternoon. As the rain fell outside, Mike and Maddox, standing in front of a window, posed for a photo, the diamond below serving as a perfect backdrop for a family that has a special connection to America’s pastime in general and the Babe Ruth World Series in particular.

“It’s nice to know that he’s always there,” Maddox said of his dad. “It means that he likes to watch me, which is nice. It means that I’m doing something right.”

Even though he’s an all-star, Maddox isn’t resting on his laurels. In fact, upon learning that the Krusaders’ game was postponed last night, he practiced anyway.

With an assist from his teammate, Chase Haglund, and former Pitt-Bradford player and Frewsburg graduate Matt Hair, Maddox got in a gym workout as a first baseman in the event he’s asked to play the position this week.

“It never ends,” Mike said. “Right now it’s our life, it’s what we do 24 hours a day.”

In addition to the family’s passion for the game, he noted that the relationships that come with being part of a team endure, even years later.

To illustrate that point, Mike said he ran into his former high school coach, Bob Schmitt, and his former Fredonia State coach, Dave Criscione, at Diethrick Park in the last few days. And even though they hadn’t seen each other in years, it didn’t matter.

“It’s been like a family reunion,” Mike said.

For the Sheesleys, that’s only fitting.