High School Excellence

This photo was taken earlier this season of the Oakland Patriots High School (Murfreesboro, TN) baseball team after an early season tournament win.  Everyone knew they had lots of potential, but just how much was yet to be seen.

Oakland is known for their baseball excellence having won two state championships in the past and sent several players to Division I colleges and to professional baseball.  This year's team may be the best ever with a minimum of 5 Division I future college players.

My family has been following the team this year because we know three of the families on this year's team and I had one of the players in a small group Bible study this year.

This year's team continued to climb in the national polls (reaching #2 in the nation a couple of weeks ago) and maintained top ranking in the state most of the season setting a record of 43-1 through the region championship.  All that stood between them and the double-elimination state tournament was a home sub-state game with Cleveland.

Last night's game was about as close of baseball game as you will ever see.  Both pitchers pitched two-hitters.  My friend, Tennyson Dodd, opened the game with a solo home-run in the bottom of the first.  Cleveland scrapped out 2 runs in the top of the 5th.  It ended in the 7th with the tieing and winning runs on 2nd and 3rd for the Patriots.  Cleveland 2, Oakland 1.

No state tournament, no chance for a state title, no more games for the seniors...but, what I would offer, is they are no less excellent than if they were going to be there next week.

The excellence happened (win or lose) because these young men got to be a part of something great.  They got out on the field and risked losing.  They played with all they had, all the time.  And happened to win about 95% of the time.

A little like life.  Maybe we don't see as much excellence because we are too afraid of losing.  We spend more time on the sidelines than in the game.  Abundant living is out there between the lines...let's go risk a little...

By the way, thanks Patriots for an excellent season!!!!

Comments

[Phil]

Hey Bud

GREAT post. It was a great game, even though we were on the losing end. I was also struck by the privilege of my family sitting with your family watching kids we know compete in the way you described. True words, man! The Mexican food before the game was a nice addition to the evening too--