State Wide Recognition Of The Oklahoma Kaos

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

As it turns out I did just as good as the last game throwing another two hitter. Next was the district championship against our rival Canfield. Unfortunately due to arm soreness I wasn’t able to pitch this game, but it didn’t matter our team had numerous pitchers. Similar to the previous two playoff games we blew them out. The game only lasted five innings and we won twelve to two. The following week game our first game in the regional tournament and we were playing Tallmadge. Unlike the district tournament we had no idea what the teams were like here, but it didn’t matter we were able to win both regional games six to four and then nine to six. At this time or teams dream came true, we had made it to the state tournament where we would play Columbus Bishop Watterson. This was one of the most nerve racking things that I had ever gone through. Once again I was named the starting pitcher. For the first time all season we came into a game as the underdog. All week long we had to hear about how good the team we were playing was and how they were going to kill us. Although everyone on the team would say otherwise I believe that we let this talk get to

My freshman year we entered playoffs with a hopeful optimism that in our first year in 3A, the largest division, we could make a statement that we were here to stay. In the end, the game didn’t go our way. There were some questionable calls made but in the end, it is what it is: we weren’t good enough to win. A tough reality but often times you learn more from a loss than from a win. Sophomore

We got changed in the locker room, listening to music that would get our adrenaline pumping. The game started with a tip-off with us getting the ball and scoring on the first play, but so did the other team. The game was very close. We would score, they would score. No one ever got ahead by more than four points. At the end of the second quarter with ten seconds left, it was their ball and we were down by two. They did a nice play and a girl got a wide open three pointer. Then the buzzer went off and we all looked at our fuming coach and knew what was about to come at half time. You know that scene in the movie, “42” about Jackie Robinson, where the other teams coach is yelling at him saying rude things? And then there’s the heartbreakingly beautiful scene where Jackie goes into the dugout and breaks his bat and screams and cries. That’s what our halftime was like. The coach yelling and us wanting to scream and cry, but still we had determination to win this game. We came back out ready to play and immediately tied it back it up. The game kept going back and forth, until the fourth quarter with a minute left and us up by four. The other teams coach called a timeout and our coach gave us a speech about if we wanted to win, we needed teamwork. Teamwork just like Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. We came back out and held the game at four points until the buzzer went

While I felt as if we would lose, I still wanted to try my hardest to change that outcome. I played my hardest at Shortstop and was able to get two of the three outs by a double play. Sadly that play had come at the expense of a run from their team. The last batter from their team was struck out and we headed back to get ready and bat. The crowd kept supporting us through the bad calls from the umpire and the strikeouts even to this point. The team was motivated and ready to take this game and head to finals with my morale boosted I got ready to cheer my team on

Walking out onto the opponent’s brightly lit turf field setting up for the kickoff of the second half just gave me the feeling that everybody knows, my hair starts to stand up, butterflies began to flutter in my stomach, and everything seems to slow down. Looking into the stands and seeing that our hometown fans had traveled four hours in order to outdo the home crowd gave me a sense of comfort. Looking into East Jefferson’s stands and seeing that our fans, despite having to travel all the way down south, outnumbered their fans by at least 70 people. I found myself thinking that this meant just as much to our town as it did to our school and team. This feeling would be just the motivation we needed in order to finish this game

“Never get too high and never get too low,” Sarkisian said. “You recognize what went well and what didn’t. Our guys were focused and they were ready to go. They were in it and played hard, but it was just that last half of the inning it just didn’t work. But there is nothing to hang your head about. Just recognise that we had opportunities and we have to just make more plays. We come back to work on Monday and move forward.”

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

Since Pennsauken got the ball in the first quarter The Braves were gonna get it in the beginning of the third. This is when it got difficult. The kick return only went for five yards and , consequently, a quick three and out on offense. Every play I heard the thunderous crowd yell,”Awwwwww!” when we messed up. There are three reasons why that could have happened either: there was something in the oranges, their coach gave an awesome pep-talk or the cold was getting to our team; and I remember hearing somebody start to say,”What did they put in their oranges?” Pennsauken got their third TD and now we were tied- a

Finally the game started and we played well and so did they. The game was close the whole way threw and we came to the final inning tying them. We were the home team so we got to bat last. Two of the three outs

I could feel the pitcher’s stress from 200 feet away in the dugout. We were up five at the top of the eighth, but the win was not secure. I could tell the pitcher was struggling to keep his composure. Suddenly, the coach calls me to warm up in the bullpen. I was excited and nervous to enter the game; I knew my warming up would add pressure to the pitcher and this was the Legion Sub-State Semifinal game, which determined our chance to advance to state. By the time I got to the mound, the bases were loaded with two outs. I noticed the packed stadium, felt the sweltering 90 degrees, and sensed the crowd’s tension. I had never pitched against this team, so I relied on communicating with the catcher. I threw a knee high fastball--STRIKE ONE. Next, I threw low and away curveball--STRIKE TWO. The catcher signaled a high fastball, knowing the batter was expecting another curveball. The batter chased the ball--STRIKE THREE. We won the game and moved on to finals. Two hours in the dug out, five minutes in the bullpen, and thirty seconds on the mound--not to mention fifteen hours a week, ten months a year for fifteen years--all culminated in a few seconds to advance

I really didn’t do to well hitting but the rest of my team did and that’s what meant a lot to me and watching my teammates making plays and working as hard as the possible can play in that field made me supper happy. It came down the last inning and we kind of just fell apart in the field but we still have to fight and play hard and just because we are losing doesn’t mean we stop playing. The game finally came to the end and the seniors started getting emotional and then everyone on the team started to get a little emotional it was a very hard loss for the whole team and the coaches. After knowing that we had a great season the team got together for one big last eagles on three for the

They came in with pretty high hopes, and lots of confidence. But, the amount of cockiness they showed only added to our cockiness as well. Much like a chess match the mind games before the game even started was a whole game of its own. We won both the baseball game, and the chess match I might add. We took care of business from the opening pitch. GSL had brought everything they had, but it just wasn’t enough. This left us as the only unbeaten team left. Only 4 teams left in total, us, GSL, Maple Lake, and of course Watertown. Winning the first 3 games was quite the obstacle, but we overcame it, easier than it should have been. The biggest obstacle had yet to be sprung upon us. Our next game was just

We were not expected to be in this position after starting the season with two wins and six losses. With the bases loaded, I stepped into the batter’s box for my second at bat in the 2017 PA District 2 AAAA High School Championship game. Our opponent was stacked with three prospective Division 1 pitchers. I was nervous to say the least, but then my “moment” arrived. I saw my pitch, and launched a bases clearing triple that added to a lead that would eventually produce a victory for my team. We moved on through the playoffs, and eventually landed at Medlar field in State College, where we delivered our first baseball State Championship in school history.

Throughout the hallways of the Xcel, all I could hear was people cheering for us. Not only were the students of East High happy to have won, but over 75 percent of the people attending the game were as well. As we finally made it out of the Xcel, I knew this was a moment I would remember for the rest of my