Peaking Emotions

I remember the day like it was yesterday. However, the day I'm refering to was four years ago. Patrick sat on the couch in the living room, with his baseball uniform in his hands. I watched him as he sat there and just stared at it for the longest time then said, "Today is the day I've been waiting for my whole life." At 15 years old and he's talking about something he has waited his whole life to do?? I asked him what he was referring too, and he said, "Putting on his varsity baseball uniform."

What a happy, sad, proud moment I had witnessed.



From his first game as a varsity baseball player, to his last game today, it has been an emotional roller coaster. I knew four years ago this day was coming. Trying to prepare for it doesn't get any easier as the days tick away. Today, the baseball team traveled to Springs Valley in French Lick, for the first game of sectional play. The Tigers faced the Trinity Cougars from Seymour. During the regular season the game scheduled with Trinity was rained out and never rescheduled. So, this was the first meeting the Tigers had with the Cougars this season.

Last year in the baseball sectional at Dubois, the Tigers faced the Cougars in a simular situation. It was the semifinal game with the winner advancing into the championship game. Last year the Tigers were successful in defeating Trinity and were sectional runner-ups after they were defeated in the championship game against Dubois.

Today was a different story.

The Tigers lost to Trinity 12-0 in five innings.

This was the final at-bat and final swing for Patrick as a varsity baseball player.



Emotions ran high after the final out when the seniors realized they'd never again put on their uniform and play the game they so dearly love. Tears of sorrow, comforting hugs, and kind words were said to try to ease the pain of reality. In the end, the young men will have their memories to look back on and hopefully realize they did make a difference, even if they were only there for four short years.