What goes through each of our players thoughts as the season unfolds will be interesting to find out and even more exciting for me is how it will manifest in each of them. In Coachspeak, we call this opportunity, which is really code for "I don't know how we're going to do, we have a lot of question marks and I hope we don't get embarrassed."
However, we should have learned long ago to never underestimate a heart full of desire and the willingness to compete. I've come across many athletes like that description and, as a matter of fact, several of them graduated last year from Faith Christian.
Jared Pruett, all 5'7" of him, was and is the consummate dirt bag player. He started from the time he was a freshman and could have started as an 8th grader. Coaches lamented the fact he wasn't a 'projectable' (not a body type or plus ratings to be drafted or D1) but loved his game. He was the back up plan for many coaches until a coach from Three Rivers Community College saw him play over three days. He fell in love with his game. It has always been pretty easy to love not only what Jared did as a competitor, but how he did it. Assassins grin and unflinching ability to meet any challenge. He did that on the football field, taking on guys twice his size and delivering some powerful hits. We joke that he probably had 10 concussions (and although I know it's not necessarily a joke) and just smiles. He grew as a leader and, as all leaders, he wasn't perfect. (I wasn't either and surprisingly, I'm still not!) but he always tried and that's a mark of a good leader. Jared finished his career at the TAPPS All Star game and I couldn't have been prouder. He matured so much over his four years and one thing I'm still in awe of is his all out dive into snowy Lake Grapevine while I watched, water up to my belly button as I refused to go no further. He was simply fearless when it came to any challenge.
Justin Davis was, as I found out too late for me to fully enjoy it, a sharp witted and genuinely funny young man. He armed himself with great compassion, love for God and a quiet tenacity on the mound. He was our ace, our go to guy and he learned to embrace that role, became more confident and turned out to be one of the best pitchers I've coached in high school. He prepared himself, learned to flush and focus, and wanted the ball. I allowed him to call his own game and there were instances when he'd simply look at me, point his glove (that was his sign for me to call something) and most of the time I called for his change up. But that was rarely needed. JD knew what he wanted to do, knew to execute and knew if he executed, he'd keep himself in any game. Just to show how easy the game was, his final game in the State Regionals, he had three hits, including a 3 run HR that he may call his most satisfying moment in HS. He's off to Pepperdine now, basking in the San Diego sun and growing a Derek Holland mustache while continuing his work ethic rating of a 10.
Pierson Sizelove had the heart of a warrior and a nurturer at the same time. He could knock you down on a trap block or hit a HR off you and circle the bases telling you to honor the game while simultaneously picking you up and asking you if you were OK. He's been through enough stuff at 19 that most haven't gone through their entire life. He struggled mightily in school, but always found the will to push through. There were times he wanted to pack it in, but there was something inside him that wouldn't let it happen. He wouldn't allow it. Maybe it was fear of failure or fear of external punishment, but I think it was simply P saying to himself, "Not this time, not again. I'm winning", and he did. He was a bulldog on the mound and bullheaded at times. He drew the tough assignments his senior year on the mound and always battled. He was dependable and he grew into that. We are never a finished product, but the transformation P has gone through in the last three years has been a complete joy to watch from a distance. He is going to Firefighter's Academy now and going to continue to make a difference in people's lives.
Brance Kahle is probably the most naturally gifted player from our 2012 team and, like all of our seniors, he grew into that role as he finished his time at Faith. It was often a tumultuous time for him and myself, conflicted by different voices and wanting to please them all. There were moments he decided he was going some place else and moments I thought he should. It couldn't have been easy but I grew in deeper appreciation and affection for him as well as his families' deep love for him and their strong family bond. Sometimes all it takes a different perspective and we see what God sees. We have to be willing to move from our spots of comfort and I'm grateful to God He moved me. Brance finished the season as the clutch performer, both at the plate and on the mound. He led us through the playoffs and got us to the Regionals. I think it is safe to say, without him, we aren't nearly as successful. But that is the beauty of this group...we needed each of them and, I needed them. Brance is now playing at Murray St. College in Oklahoma and is forging out a role with them.
To be continued with the rest of the '12 class:
Zach Garcia
Jordan Jones
Brett Perkins
The dependability and constancy of the 2012 graduating class will endure for quite some time and will stay with me until my days are few.
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