These boys just keep finding a way to blow your mind. Of course I'm speaking of Rowan Legion's recent big win against the defending champions from Las Vegas. This Rowan County team just keeps finding a way to do it.
With the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the seventh for Las Vegas, things looked pretty grim for Rowan's chances. But somehow, Alex Litaker got out of it and gave his teammates a chance to score some runs, which they did, and somehow got three outs to secure a huge win in the Legion World Series.
Many fans, like me, said afterwards that they couldn't take too much more of this (referring to the closeness and intensity of the games), but we're all just so happy that our hometown boys are still in it.
It really is hard to fathom how momentous an occasion this is. The fact that Rowan is guaranteed at least a fourth- place finish in the entire nation is mind-blowing.
Before the game I said to someone, "Rowan County vs. Las Vegas, that just sounds funny, doesn't it?" She replied that it was just a name, and she was right.
So folks, stay tuned, stay excited, and keep on pulling hard for your Rowan County boys. They might just find a way to surprise you.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sechler column: Rowan rises above rain delays, hard loss
After the rain ruined the first night of Rowan Legion's stay in Fargo and forced postponement of the team's first game, we finally got to play some baseball after a long wait. Many, like me, were thinking: Are we going to get to see our team play after coming all this way?
But Rowan finally did get to play on Saturday and nearly found a way to win its first game, despite not playing particularly well the majority of the game.
Many Rowan fans from Fargo to Salisbury held their breath as Rowan looked as though the team might escape a bases-loaded, no-outs jam while leading Festus, Mo., in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, destiny and luck weren't on the side of Rowan that game. A fly ball fell softly on the right field grass after three Rowan players tried their best to make the catch, and Rowan fell 6-5 to Festus.
I'm sure many who haven't followed the team closely this year wondered how Rowan would respond after such a gut-wrenching defeat. The answer to that is: very well. The team hasn't had many back-to-back defeats this year, and the Rowan boys have always responded well after a loss.
That was the case once more as they took the field Saturday against Mount Airy (Md.). It didn't look good early on for the Rowan boys, trailing 2-0, but they rallied big time for a staying-alive 8-3 victory.
I've had many people ask me what we do to pass the time in Fargo when Rowan is not playing. The answer to that is: whatever we can find to do. We always find time to eat, and even on Sunday we found some time to visit the local WalMart. The rest of the time we spent just hanging out in the motel room or on the phone with numerous people who want to know what is going on and when would Rowan play next. It can be frustrating because we have no idea what to tell them because we don't know ourselves.
With the weather being uncooperative the past couple of days and games being pushed back, we just have to sit and wait until we hear some news.
The waiting game can get old, but for now we just have to relax and enjoy this monumental moment.
But Rowan finally did get to play on Saturday and nearly found a way to win its first game, despite not playing particularly well the majority of the game.
Many Rowan fans from Fargo to Salisbury held their breath as Rowan looked as though the team might escape a bases-loaded, no-outs jam while leading Festus, Mo., in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, destiny and luck weren't on the side of Rowan that game. A fly ball fell softly on the right field grass after three Rowan players tried their best to make the catch, and Rowan fell 6-5 to Festus.
I'm sure many who haven't followed the team closely this year wondered how Rowan would respond after such a gut-wrenching defeat. The answer to that is: very well. The team hasn't had many back-to-back defeats this year, and the Rowan boys have always responded well after a loss.
That was the case once more as they took the field Saturday against Mount Airy (Md.). It didn't look good early on for the Rowan boys, trailing 2-0, but they rallied big time for a staying-alive 8-3 victory.
I've had many people ask me what we do to pass the time in Fargo when Rowan is not playing. The answer to that is: whatever we can find to do. We always find time to eat, and even on Sunday we found some time to visit the local WalMart. The rest of the time we spent just hanging out in the motel room or on the phone with numerous people who want to know what is going on and when would Rowan play next. It can be frustrating because we have no idea what to tell them because we don't know ourselves.
With the weather being uncooperative the past couple of days and games being pushed back, we just have to sit and wait until we hear some news.
The waiting game can get old, but for now we just have to relax and enjoy this monumental moment.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Sometimes it rains
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.” If you recognize that quote, than you know it’s from the movie Bull Durham. I thought about that as we watched the rain come down on Newman Field Friday night.
After finally arriving to our destination in Fargo, ND for the American Legion World Series at 11 am Friday, Mother Nature decided she would interfere with the festivities. Rowan really didn’t have a scheduled time, so there’s always a little waiting around to do.
As the game between Medford, Oregon and Midland, Michigan was winding to an end, the clouds began to move in. Not wanting to think the worse, I said to everyone around me, “It’s not going to rain.” Sometimes optimism and positive thinking can blind the reality. That was the case this time.
As I looked over at Leigh Michalec’s blackberry cell phone, I saw the blob of green heading our way. The rain began to fall very gently for a short while and we thought positively again that we might get to play. Well that was a bad thought, a gust of strong wind and rain blew in moving all the fans and even players to the concourse. Shortly after, we all realized we weren’t playing this game tonight.
One of the locals said to us with just a hint of sarcasm, “Don’t you just love North Dakota weather?”
So the first day of games in Fargo results in no home runs or three up and three down innings for the Rowan County boys, but the best thing about baseball is even when you don’t play well one night, or at all in this case, there is always a game tomorrow, we hope.
After finally arriving to our destination in Fargo, ND for the American Legion World Series at 11 am Friday, Mother Nature decided she would interfere with the festivities. Rowan really didn’t have a scheduled time, so there’s always a little waiting around to do.
As the game between Medford, Oregon and Midland, Michigan was winding to an end, the clouds began to move in. Not wanting to think the worse, I said to everyone around me, “It’s not going to rain.” Sometimes optimism and positive thinking can blind the reality. That was the case this time.
As I looked over at Leigh Michalec’s blackberry cell phone, I saw the blob of green heading our way. The rain began to fall very gently for a short while and we thought positively again that we might get to play. Well that was a bad thought, a gust of strong wind and rain blew in moving all the fans and even players to the concourse. Shortly after, we all realized we weren’t playing this game tonight.
One of the locals said to us with just a hint of sarcasm, “Don’t you just love North Dakota weather?”
So the first day of games in Fargo results in no home runs or three up and three down innings for the Rowan County boys, but the best thing about baseball is even when you don’t play well one night, or at all in this case, there is always a game tomorrow, we hope.
Road cones and corn
As my journey to Fargo for the Legion World Series continues, I found myself taking in country that I had never before seen and some of it that I don’t care to see again. I did enjoy our ride through Chicago, as we tried our best to take snap shots of the Sears Tower and other surrounding buildings of the “windy city” skyline.
That however, besides the lively conversation between us, was the highlight of our Thursday ride from Sellersburg, Indiana to St. Cloud, Minnesota. You know how in the movie “The Wizard of Oz” in the beginning when you see nothing but corn fields before the tornado takes Dorothy’s house away, well imagine that for several hundred miles in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Besides the seemingly endless corn fields, there was plenty of road construction to really get under your skin.
Each time we saw a sign for road construction, our driver Jenny Fox could only give a small growl to show her begrudge for the familiar orange road cones that became an all too familiar sight for us.
We’re still about two and a half hours or so from our destination on the border of North Dakota. We decided to get some rest and finish our journey in the morning when we will pick up Leigh Michalec (Russell Michalec’s mom) at the Fargo airport.
Rowan plays the last game of the day on Friday, so there really is no telling when Rowan County’s boys and the boys from Festus, Missouri will toss that ball around.
So I leave you again, signing off from St. Cloud, as we will finally make it to Fargo, North Dakota for the Legion World Series Friday.
That however, besides the lively conversation between us, was the highlight of our Thursday ride from Sellersburg, Indiana to St. Cloud, Minnesota. You know how in the movie “The Wizard of Oz” in the beginning when you see nothing but corn fields before the tornado takes Dorothy’s house away, well imagine that for several hundred miles in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Besides the seemingly endless corn fields, there was plenty of road construction to really get under your skin.
Each time we saw a sign for road construction, our driver Jenny Fox could only give a small growl to show her begrudge for the familiar orange road cones that became an all too familiar sight for us.
We’re still about two and a half hours or so from our destination on the border of North Dakota. We decided to get some rest and finish our journey in the morning when we will pick up Leigh Michalec (Russell Michalec’s mom) at the Fargo airport.
Rowan plays the last game of the day on Friday, so there really is no telling when Rowan County’s boys and the boys from Festus, Missouri will toss that ball around.
So I leave you again, signing off from St. Cloud, as we will finally make it to Fargo, North Dakota for the Legion World Series Friday.
Car full of fans heard north
The first day of our quest to Fargo, North Dakota for the American Legion World Series is now a day old after leaving Salisbury a little after 11 am Wednesday and arriving in Sellersburg, Indiana that evening (just outside of Louisville, Kentucky). I am making the once in a lifetime trek with longtime Rowan Legion fan Jenny Fox, die-hard fan (and cousin) Brent Yost and left fielder Russell Michalec’s grandmother Genny Reed.
We all know each other very well through the season and the past seasons, so it’s not like I’m riding with strangers. The first part of our journey took us through the mountains of North Carolina heading west on interstate 40, taking us through Knoxville, Tennessee. From Knoxville we headed north to Lexington, Kentucky.
It’s interesting to see a part of the country you’ve never seen before and I know that over the next day or so, I will definitely get to see some country that I’ve never before seen. I know it sounds cliché to say “once in a lifetime,” but this trip truly is once in a lifetime. I may never get to make it to another Legion world series in my lifetime and Rowan is not guaranteed another trip back.
I’ve been a pretty avid and some might say religious Rowan County American Legion baseball fan for the past four years or so, so the decision to make the trip to Fargo wasn’t an easy one but I never had any doubts about wanting to go. At first of course, there was talk of getting together a fan chartered bus, but with little time to plan and lack of commitments, the bus ended up not being an option.
Plane tickets to Fargo were outrageously pricey, so many of the parents and fans just decided to just drive and take their time getting to Fargo to watch their Rowan boys of summer continue this magical ride.
So with a long day of traveling ahead of me Thursday, I sign off for now, and should report on my ‘Trek to Fargo’ from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
We all know each other very well through the season and the past seasons, so it’s not like I’m riding with strangers. The first part of our journey took us through the mountains of North Carolina heading west on interstate 40, taking us through Knoxville, Tennessee. From Knoxville we headed north to Lexington, Kentucky.
It’s interesting to see a part of the country you’ve never seen before and I know that over the next day or so, I will definitely get to see some country that I’ve never before seen. I know it sounds cliché to say “once in a lifetime,” but this trip truly is once in a lifetime. I may never get to make it to another Legion world series in my lifetime and Rowan is not guaranteed another trip back.
I’ve been a pretty avid and some might say religious Rowan County American Legion baseball fan for the past four years or so, so the decision to make the trip to Fargo wasn’t an easy one but I never had any doubts about wanting to go. At first of course, there was talk of getting together a fan chartered bus, but with little time to plan and lack of commitments, the bus ended up not being an option.
Plane tickets to Fargo were outrageously pricey, so many of the parents and fans just decided to just drive and take their time getting to Fargo to watch their Rowan boys of summer continue this magical ride.
So with a long day of traveling ahead of me Thursday, I sign off for now, and should report on my ‘Trek to Fargo’ from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Rowan County Legion is your state champs!
After another long but seemingly short summer of Rowan County American Legion Baseball, here we are about to enter the month of August, and Rowan's boys of summer and their fans, parents and others are planning a trip to the southeastern regionals in Sumter, South Carolina after winning the 2009 North Carolina American Legion State title with a 5-3 victory over Shelby.
"We did it!" Many Rowan fans exclaimed after Billy Veal struck out the last Shelby batter on a 1-2 count, sending the Rowan fans who made the trip to Greenville into a mad frenzy of cheers that echoed relief and joy.
Myself, being the huge fan that I am, took in the moment glancing around to see the expressions on many of the fan's faces, all so relieved and thrilled to death to see their boys win one (the program's seventh) for the county of Rowan and the program's past players.
I've been following Rowan fairly religously for the past four years or so, and it felt wonderful to be a part of that state title, even though I didn't throw a pitch or swing a bat. I have people tell me all the time about how much they appreciate my support and enthusiasm for the team.
I don't know any different than to pull like hell for my team and yell my lungs out for their success. It's great to get to know some of the parents, even becomming good friends and sharing these great moments.
I look forward to what the regionals have in store for my boys as they travel southward to the Palmetto State. I'm not sure what to expect as far as what my team will do in Sumter, it's been one heck of ride this year and whatever happens, I'm going to remain proud of my team.
"We did it!" Many Rowan fans exclaimed after Billy Veal struck out the last Shelby batter on a 1-2 count, sending the Rowan fans who made the trip to Greenville into a mad frenzy of cheers that echoed relief and joy.
Myself, being the huge fan that I am, took in the moment glancing around to see the expressions on many of the fan's faces, all so relieved and thrilled to death to see their boys win one (the program's seventh) for the county of Rowan and the program's past players.
I've been following Rowan fairly religously for the past four years or so, and it felt wonderful to be a part of that state title, even though I didn't throw a pitch or swing a bat. I have people tell me all the time about how much they appreciate my support and enthusiasm for the team.
I don't know any different than to pull like hell for my team and yell my lungs out for their success. It's great to get to know some of the parents, even becomming good friends and sharing these great moments.
I look forward to what the regionals have in store for my boys as they travel southward to the Palmetto State. I'm not sure what to expect as far as what my team will do in Sumter, it's been one heck of ride this year and whatever happens, I'm going to remain proud of my team.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My definition of America
In a recent article I wrote for the Salisbury Post, I stated that "if you ever wanted to see a clear picture of what America is, then go to Faith in late June and early July and you will certainly see just that."
Well much to my shagrin, someone commented in the comments section at the bottom of my article on http://www.salisburypost.com/ website saying that "I wish people would stop referring to Faith as this All-American town when it's full of racists, and that I didn't see any pictures of African Americans."
That may be true, but you cannot find a town in this great country of ours that doesn't have racists. Faith definitely has it's history when it comes to it's past referring to the lack of minorities living there.
Faith is one of those towns that has been the same since it was established. Everyone that lives there is just about if not related. Everybody knows everybody's name and knows about everyone's business. You can tell that just by walking around and listening to people's conversations and they way they act around one another.
That is what America should be, people knowing everybody, and keeping that tight close-knit type of family atmosphere.
The Faith-type town is dying in America, and I'm glad that Faith has kept it's heritage alive with the annual Faith Fourth Festivities. The Faith Fourth of July Parade is annually the top fourth of July celebration in the state of North Carolina.
I'm so glad that towns like Faith still exist with all the big cities and sub-divisions of today where people don't even know who lives next to them.
Regardless of the fact that racism still exists today, and the old stereo-types that people have placed on towns like Faith, just because there aren't equal numbered races living there, having towns like Faith is so very important to keeping our country's proud tradition alive and well.
Well much to my shagrin, someone commented in the comments section at the bottom of my article on http://www.salisburypost.com/ website saying that "I wish people would stop referring to Faith as this All-American town when it's full of racists, and that I didn't see any pictures of African Americans."
That may be true, but you cannot find a town in this great country of ours that doesn't have racists. Faith definitely has it's history when it comes to it's past referring to the lack of minorities living there.
Faith is one of those towns that has been the same since it was established. Everyone that lives there is just about if not related. Everybody knows everybody's name and knows about everyone's business. You can tell that just by walking around and listening to people's conversations and they way they act around one another.
That is what America should be, people knowing everybody, and keeping that tight close-knit type of family atmosphere.
The Faith-type town is dying in America, and I'm glad that Faith has kept it's heritage alive with the annual Faith Fourth Festivities. The Faith Fourth of July Parade is annually the top fourth of July celebration in the state of North Carolina.
I'm so glad that towns like Faith still exist with all the big cities and sub-divisions of today where people don't even know who lives next to them.
Regardless of the fact that racism still exists today, and the old stereo-types that people have placed on towns like Faith, just because there aren't equal numbered races living there, having towns like Faith is so very important to keeping our country's proud tradition alive and well.
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