What We Can Learn from How Central Won State’s 5-A Baseball Championship

One the greatest sports movie ever made and a personal favorite of mine is “The Sandlot.” This movie follows a group of young boys who come together every day and play neighborhood baseball—no score, no set teams, and no worries in the world.
This year the Central High School baseball team had a similar mindset. Instead of focusing on individual stats, we played for the love of the game and the love of each other.
This team of baseball players had evolved into a family. In the movie when the boys are visited by the ghost of Babe Ruth, he imparts a valuable lesson. He states, “Heroes get remembered but legends never die.”
That quote embodies what this year’s baseball team was pursuing. Becoming state champions made us feel like heroes last year, but this year we wanted to do something that would create a legacy in our community. But a legacy is impossible without people to carry on your story, and that is what this town has provided for us.
When we showed up on game-day and saw the stands full of people — from little kids in their own jerseys to our grandparents who have supported us since we were born, we knew that we were playing for something bigger than ourselves!
This community supported us without fail, and that was more vital to our success than any practice or drill.
This team played baseball the right way — we hustled on every pitch and we played unselfishly, always trusting the next man up.
We played to create a legacy that will last forever, but ultimately how we will be remembered is up to the citizens of Central.
I hope that we represented you well, and in turn I hope your support of Central athletics never wavers because without you, championships would not be possible.
Thank you and as always GO WILDCATS!