Life update...
Ok, so running has been few and far between this last week. I guess some for good reason and other just because I have been extremely busy. So there won't be much running talk here.
I am sort of hoping that maybe discussing this will help sort of get over what happens this weekend. If you don't care for high school sports this probably won't be much of interest to you.
A bit of a back story - I have grown up in a very sports centric family. My grandpa was a high school football coach for 53 years (2016 was his final year). He also coached Basketball for over 20 years as well. My Dad has been a high school baseball coach for 25 years and also coached football and basketball. Now I coach football and am what we have dubbed "Head of Baseball Operations" for the same team my dad coaches. I am the official scorer, take care of the team website, social media, photos, fundraising, etc. You name it I probably do it. This year we had 8 seniors on our team, for a baseball team that is a lot. Most of those 8 have been on this same team since they were freshman and have developed into some fantastic players.
Going into this season we had high expectations, not only did we believe we would win our conference, we believed we had the makings of a state championship season. Our season begins mid May and runs until the State Tournament which was July 20th. We accomplished our first goal of a conference championship going 15-1 in our conference. We then went onto win our conference tournament. Entering the playoffs we had the best overall record in school history. We had the number 1 overall seed and a first round bye. Second round we beat a solid team 1-0. Moving onto Sectionals we won the first game 5-4 and then won the sectional final 3-2 in extra innings. We were state bound for the first time in 17 years. Entering the State Tournament we were expecting to win it all. We won the first game 6-2 (which is rained pretty much the entire time).
Then it was time for the final game, the one for all the marbles. The team we were facing threw a no-hitter in the game before that and won with only 1 hit. Well, after 7 innings (normal regulation for WI high school baseball) it was still 0-0. It was really one of the most amazing defensive games I have ever seen. Both teams got out of tough situations and was a showcase of the best baseball in the state. We enter the 8th inning and load the bases with no outs. We score 1 on a Sac fly. We should have been able score more but like I said an incredible defensive game. All we need is 3 outs and the championship is ours. We get the first, go 0-2 on the next batter and bang double over our right fielders head. Ok fine. Next pitch, is wild, moves runner to third. Still only one out so here comes the sacrifice squeeze play. They tie the game. Ok, fine. Next batter walked... Next batter hit by pitch... 1st and 2nd occupied. Lead off hitter at the plate, base hit up the middle... Walk off winner and a loss for us...
Honestly it was an incredible game and one of those games you don't want to see anyone lose because whoever does lose is going to be devastated. This will be one of those losses that sticks with us for the rest of our lives. So much invested into this by coaches, players, and parents. Baseball is one of those sports that one small mistake can cost you an entire game. I know it may seem weird to some to be so invested into high school sports like this but when you come from a family like mine it is hard not to be. Each one of us on the coaching staff has been sort of reflecting on this game since it happened. What if this and that. Emotions were surely had by both coaches and players and even parents. I think that is a sign of a successful team, coaching staff, and support system. Now it is time to rebuild and move forward even though it is hard too.
Well anyways back to Disney/running...
As I mentioned days ago now, I am signed up for Dopey. I have Wine and Dine before that though. I am sort of lacking ambition to get out on longer training runs right now. Being so busy doesn't help either. August 1st is the start of football season for me. We also have our State Fair that week which I work 8 of the 11 days with 2 more of those 11 working another event at Lambeau Field. So I guess my goal for this week is to try and find my mojo again for running.