Sectional Championship: The Worst Feeling In The World

It only took us twenty minutes to be up 2-0 against a team, our main rivals Clements, we had not beaten them for twenty years and who were also former state champions. It was the best feeling ever, seeing the confusion in their faces from being down to us. All the work we had put in that year was finally translated into the field, where it truly matters. Toe to toe with a team they said we had no chance against, I beg to differ. All was going well, until early in the second half they had scored a goal. I could sense the timorous feeling beginning to rise within my teammates, but I never doubted them and knew we still had a

I was only a sophomore at the time, so I was still new to high school football and I wasn’t the greatest athlete either. I am on my second year of highschool football, and now is when football got very intense for me because the coaches were getting us ready for Varsity football. Early in the season our starting center on the team got injured with a very severe concussion that kept him out the whole season. I was playing Junior Varsity as a left tackle so I never thought I would have to play center. However a few weeks and games went by and one day our backup center got hurt in practice. The next day my coach called me into his office and said, “you are the backup center now so i’m going to need you to be ready for the game this week if we need you.” My heart sunk into my chest because I was so nervous and scared at the thought of playing

After the victory I was still angry with myself. That one at-bat made me realize that I can do better and be a better baseball player. Every day after that game I made my dad do hitting drills with me. I hit the cages every other day until my next season came around which was high school baseball. When it came time for my high school season I led the team in hits and runs batted in. We won the GNC tournament and made it to the state championship; sadly we

It wasn’t any normal game it was the championship game. I really didn't have any worries because my team was really good. The other team was good too because that team had beat us before and they beat us by a lot of points. I was texting my friends while I waiting for the game cousin told me

I watched the ball roll into the back of the net; it was 12-12 in overtime against Cardinal Gibbons. This was my last game with my brothers, best friends, and a family I will cherish for the rest of my life. I not only let my teammates down, I let my family down. We lost against Cardinal Gibbons in the 2015 3A State Championship game 13-12 in overtime. When they scored their final goal I immediately dropped to my knees and began to sob, I was not upset that I lost, I was upset that I let my family down and that was the last time I would ever step on the field with

In the bottom of the inning, with the chance to win, I would make the first plate appearance of the inning with hopes to start it off with a hit. Before our at-bats, Coach Sullivan talked to the team saying, “This is the moment you have all worked for. This is where all that extra work will finally pay off. This is a moment you will remember for the rest of your lives. Now GO GET ‘EM!” So I ran in the dugout, grabbed my helmet and bat, and began getting ready for my at-bat. As I was preparing Coach Sullivan came over and gathered up the next few batters, including myself, and said, “Right now! This is your time! Go do your best and good things will happen!” I was as prepared as ever when I finally stepped up to the plate to start the inning. As the pitch came towards me I swung the bat and felt a POP. I looked up to see the ball soar into the outfield and land as a base hit. The next batter was Ben Beis who, on the first pitch, watched a ball in the dirt which got past the catcher allowing me to advance to second base. Ben then did a sacrifice bunt moving me from second base to third

When my coach put me in the game I looked at him and said are you sure you want me to do this coach he said yes get out here and play and have a good time while you’re out there. I ran out to left field and I had that feeling like please don’t hit the ball to me but that didn’t happen the next pitch the ball came straight out to left field and I made this play that I was really proud of myself for it was a huge part of my life to be able to go out there and making plays and not letting my team down and having are team play like a teams it was just a great time.

My teammates and I were over-confident and had made some early mental errors. This allowed Cascade to earn three runs in the first inning, while we got none. In the huddle after inning one, our coach said, “Where’s the energy boys? You guys look flat out there!” In the next few innings, we found ways to pick up two runs, only while allowing Cascade another. It was a defensive battle, as neither team could get any runs. By the time we reached the sixth inning, the score was tied four to four. I started to get nervous, as I knew I would have a pivotal at-bat this inning. The first batter got on base with a walk. Our team, was very excited as he was the winning run. Our excitement instantly faded, as the next two batters struck out. This left me up with the last out. Our man on base had stolen to second, putting him in perfect scoring position. My teammates yelled from the dugout, “Let’s go Hinch! You got this big guy.” My coach said to me, “Alex, sit back and drive the ball. Make sure it’s a good pitch!” I could feel the pressure of the moment, but wanted to be the guy to get us the win. The at-bat started off slow as I got two strikes and two balls. On the fifth pitch, I got a ball right down the middle. I made a big swing at the ball and felt it come off my bat. Immediately, I started sprinting towards first and was signaled to go for second. The winning run had scored and our team went wild! We had won the game, and left Cascade with two victories. From this point on, I was much more confident. My teammates also felt a new sense of belief in me. The rest of the year was very enjoyable and left me with many new friendships! It was a summer I will always

“I want you to be the captain of the fall ball team.” my coach explained as we were heading in to our fall season. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for such a task. It was only my first year with the team and I wasn’t very vocal either. Although I didn’t feel confident in my ability to lead the team I put that all behind me looked at my coach and said “Sure thing coach” in the most confident manner possible. When my coach

It all started at the end of last summer. I'm the Drum Major of my school’s band, and for that reason, I was the most nervous I had ever been in my life. At any one point, there were over 150 people watching my every move, and it was nerve-racking. Last summer, they watched me through the hardest time of my entire life. I was given the position in April, but until August, it was essentially just a title.

We were destroying Lenawee Christian, and at the end of the third quarter we were up 44-6. Coach started to put under classmen in the game. Shortly after, I heard coach calling my name. I could not believe it, that coach was actually going to put me in the game! I was excited and ready to go in. Coach put me on defence in the cornerback position. I have never practiced this position, so I was a little nervous. Little did I know, the first play I was in, I got injured. A senior from the other team ran through

Everything felt slow with just 45 more minutes until the game no one was ready yet. Everyone was moving around, no one could sit still. This was the first time that everyone has been in this kind of position. My coach came in and asked for the captains. Our captain looked around and picked me to go with him. With chills going down my neck I slowing walked out with him. On the field I can see so many lights shining, the ice cold air. Walking to the middle of the field my captain asked me to call the toss. I told him no but he told me he was too nervous to do it. Slowly walking towards the middle of the field we saw the other team’s captains. They were huge way bigger than me. The first strategy of football is to send your biggest guys to scare the other team. Well they did it to perfection to six foot guys that looks

I was good enough to make the team, but not good enough to start, and it was made sure that I knew this. At some practice early in the season, it was decided that I would be the scapegoat for the team’s insecurity. I was given the nickname ‘E6’ which means error on the shortstop. Every time I made a mistake, a chant of E6 rang out, eating at my confidence until all that was left was crumbs that could just be swept off the table. Even the coach joined in on the beratement. This caused me to enter into a season long slump, the worst of my life. It was this nightmare season that nearly caused me to give up the game I

The most impactful game for me that season was when we played against Saint Andrews College. I thought it was going to be my chance to prove myself and show that I could contribute to the team at a high level. As usual I started the game on the bench as usual and this is where I ended up staying for the majority of the game. As each minute passed I felt my confidence depleting, it was as if some was draining it right out of me. It took until the last five minutes of the game for me to go in and that nearly wasn’t enough time to do anything impactful. As I walked of the field the emotions that had been building up over the last few weeks had finally reach their tipping point.

The final game before the championship. We had been training for a month now and the gruesome work had finally paid off. We were more than ready to march on the field and take the championship. We won our league division and if we won the next game we play then we were headed to the national championship. Our team had never won the championship and we really wanted to win it.