The bases are loaded with 2 outs and Shawn Gilblair walks to the batter's box. Eastern Connecticut was able to put pressure on us to make a big play, and Jerry really rose to the challenge. After loading the bases due to a couple tough ground balls, Jerry struck out the 3 batter, in order to face Gilblair. On the first pitch of the at-bat, which arguably is the best time to swing, when facing Jerry, Gilblair fisted a pop-up to Robby Martin over at shortstop, the ball fell in slow motion. And Robby seemed to be so anxious to catch this last out that he almost jumped from the ground to snag the ball, in case something crazy happened. But it's path was inevitable, Robby snared the ball and we all rushed out of the dugout, tackling Jerry, Sean; creating a pile of complete happiness. Laughing, cheering, screaming we re-oriented ourselves and walked back to the dugouts in order to receive our trophy for winning the New England Regional Championship for a second time in a row.
And now we move forward, just like the bottom of the 1st inning is inevitably followed by the top of the 2nd. Winning the Regional Championship against a pool of unbelievably talented teams, showed our willingness to rise to the occasion and shed "no blood" in the "region of death." Some may say it was our mustaches (which are real by the way). Some may say it is Jeremiah's relentless winning streak, but I'd attribute this years team's success to our attitude. It's a combination of a relentless will to grind out games, and a refusal to never look back. Last year's team was almost perfect, but if their is anything that you learn in baseball, is that what makes baseball fun, is not perfection, it's the imperfections that make the season exciting. It's the fact that we lost to WPI earlier in the season, and then pummeled them in order to make it into the regional championship. It's the fact that Gilblair (New England Region Player of the Year) was able to face our own Jeremiah Bayer (New England Region Pitcher of the Year) in the last inning despite the fact that Gilblair wasn't due up in that inning. And most of all, we lost 4 more games than last year, 2 of those losses occurred in Florida, on our Spring Trip, but we're heading back to Wisconsin, because we made the big plays, recorded key hits, and refused to let any critics or teams stand in our way.
So either way you look at it, we're right back where we were at this time last year, which was our goal from the very beginning. And that is a wonderful feeling
I'll have pictures up in a little bit. And by the way thank you parents, siblings, relatives and fans for all your support. It was special to receive our awards and look back to see all you standing, cheering, and waving. Your encouragement and support through all of our respective baseball careers can never be matched and we are honored by that unheralded devotion. Hopefully we can bring it home for the second year in a row.
And now we move forward, just like the bottom of the 1st inning is inevitably followed by the top of the 2nd. Winning the Regional Championship against a pool of unbelievably talented teams, showed our willingness to rise to the occasion and shed "no blood" in the "region of death." Some may say it was our mustaches (which are real by the way). Some may say it is Jeremiah's relentless winning streak, but I'd attribute this years team's success to our attitude. It's a combination of a relentless will to grind out games, and a refusal to never look back. Last year's team was almost perfect, but if their is anything that you learn in baseball, is that what makes baseball fun, is not perfection, it's the imperfections that make the season exciting. It's the fact that we lost to WPI earlier in the season, and then pummeled them in order to make it into the regional championship. It's the fact that Gilblair (New England Region Player of the Year) was able to face our own Jeremiah Bayer (New England Region Pitcher of the Year) in the last inning despite the fact that Gilblair wasn't due up in that inning. And most of all, we lost 4 more games than last year, 2 of those losses occurred in Florida, on our Spring Trip, but we're heading back to Wisconsin, because we made the big plays, recorded key hits, and refused to let any critics or teams stand in our way.
So either way you look at it, we're right back where we were at this time last year, which was our goal from the very beginning. And that is a wonderful feeling
I'll have pictures up in a little bit. And by the way thank you parents, siblings, relatives and fans for all your support. It was special to receive our awards and look back to see all you standing, cheering, and waving. Your encouragement and support through all of our respective baseball careers can never be matched and we are honored by that unheralded devotion. Hopefully we can bring it home for the second year in a row.
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