Pioneers swept by Tech

Carl's Scorecard - Game #1

Carl's Scorecard - Game #2

published Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2006

The Pioneers were swept at home in conference play with Greeene County Tech last night. Rather than recount the events of last night, I would like to take the opportunity to editoralize. I love baseball. The crack of the bat, the breaking ball catching a corner for a strike, the play at the plate and the absolute majesty of the 5-4-3 double play. Baseball is a game won in inches. Great baseball requires precision to a degree unequaled in any other team sport. A baseball player is an athlete, trained and refined to a cutting edge of perfection, ready to give his all for his team. The Pioneers can be great. They lack only one thing to achieve what many believe is their destiny. I believe that one thing is trust. They must trust in their coaches, in their teammates and in their selves. They must submit themselves, surrender their individuality to the team. Only then can they truly begin to function as a team and become greater than the sum of the individuals. Individual accomplishment means nothing when you fully accept your place as a member of the team. I know that there are problems among the Pioneers, that they have been unable to find the unity that they need to excel. I would ask that each of you, whatever your role, forgive the wrongs, let go of the anger, and help this team focus on reaching it's full potential. I struggle as I sit here to find the words I need to convey my feelings, so I will borrow those of another. In Henry V, William Shakespeare wrote; "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother;" You will never succeed as individuals, you can not be stopped as brothers. Forgive your brother his slights and weaknesses, accept him as your equal, and you will achieve your utmost. It is an honor to wear the uniform, to be a part of the tradition that is Pioneer baseball. You have already added to that tradition, and I know that you're not done yet. The US Marines motto is "Semper Fidelis" latin for "Always Faithful". I think the Pioneers just pronounce it as "Wangletang".