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• Part One | Part Two (coming soon) | Part Three (coming soon) | Part Four (coming soon) | Part Five (coming soon)

Missing Out On "Special Time" Of High School - Part Five

PART FIVE: The following is the fifth of an in-depth five-part story looking at the cancellation of the 2020 high school baseball season in New England.

A LOT TO LEARN

Dealing with adversity is an everyday occurrence in sports and both players and coaches admit to learning from this experience.

“Through this time, it has made me realize how much I actually love the game,” Ryan Meyer said. “It’s also made me realize I can’t take anything for granted. Whether it’s our cross-town rivals or the worst team in the league, I just want to play ball with my friends and have some fun.

“This has also made me realize to cherish the moments I have with my teammates, because you never know when my last game with them will be. It’s so sad I’ll never be able to play with the seniors again.”

Tyler Mudd of Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts realizes the importance of not taking anything for granted more now than ever before.

“You’re always taught to play the game like it’s your last,” the sixth-ranked uncommitted 2021 in New England said. “I think based on the situation we’re in, that moral is really emphasized and put into understanding.”

It can make you take a look in the mirror.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself during this crazy time,” said Jack Ambrosino of South Burlington, Vt. “I miss baseball a lot. I wake up every morning wishing it was game day. I’d even just take practice at this point.”

Luckily for Ambrosino, there is the anticipation of next season in college.

“I’m extremely grateful that I’ll be able to continue my career at Holy Cross in the fall,” the 28th-ranked 2020 right-handed pitcher in New England noted. “I feel for all my other senior teammates that this was their last chance. It is definitely not ideal. We had a really strong senior class this year and I felt like we had a chance to do something really special for our program similar to my sophomore year when we won the state championship.”

After winning state a year ago, Tim Albertson also had high hopes in 2020.

“Every season is a new year and team,” explained Albertson, who has been in coaching for 17 seasons. “The 2019 was a great team, one that I will never forget. The returnees learned a lot from last year’s seniors and I was looking forward to watching these guys work hard and make another run at a title. It’s just disappointing to not even step on a field together one more time.”

It has the Champlain Valley mentor discovering the need to never presume.

“The lesson learned from all of this is nothing is guaranteed in life,” Albertson noted. “Make the best of the present moment and enjoy each day. Don’t take things for granted and be grateful for the opportunities you are presented with.” 

No better way to describe it than with a baseball metaphor
“I told my players that the lesson is  ... life can throw you knee-buckling curveballs at any time,” Bedford, N.H., head coach Billy Chapman said. “You can’t take things for granted, and when intelligent people with good advice offer it up, really pay attention.

“How we face this is similar to how we face the game or anything in life, control what you can control. We can’t control COVID, but how we respond will dictate how we conquer it. The game teaches us so much about life, and life can also teach us so much about the game.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

The thought of playing no more baseball hits home, even for those that have a future in the game.

“I feel especially bad for my senior teammates who may not have been planning on continuing their baseball careers after this spring season,” pointed out Henry Hersum. “They may never play organized baseball again, and it really sucks for their last opportunity to be taken away so abruptly.”

It has the junior at Prout School in Rhode Island reminiscing.

“I think not being able to pitch much last season really led me to never take an opportunity or inning for granted,” Hersum said. “I always give it my all when I’m pitching, and never really satisfied no matter how well I do.

“Another thing to put into perspective is that God has the ultimate plan for us, and I trust that he will give each of us the outcome that is right after this phase is over.”

Meyer admits to really looking forward to what he and his teammates could do.

“I think the most disappointing part of not having a season was just to see all of our hard work in the offseason not be able to pay off.” the Shrewbury, Ma., junior related. “In the winter our team had workouts at 6 a.m. before school, and to see all of our hard work and team building go to waste - especially for the seniors - is truly saddening. We had so many kids from our school committed to this program and now they don’t have a chance to prove themselves or to represent our town, which is every kid's dream.

“I just hope we can all get back to doing what we love, so we all need to be safe so we can hopefully at least get a summer of baseball in.”

Will McFadden believes the ordeal can be educational for athletes, particularly those still in school.

“I think this is a great reminder for all the underclassmen that you never will know just how long you have to play, so embrace the opportunity and be grateful if you are lucky enough to play the game for all of high school and years after,” said the senior at Belmont Hill, Ma... 

After all, the game has had a positive impact on so many for so long.

“I have definitely learned to not take my time playing the game of baseball for granted,” noted Jake Neuman of Southington, Ct. “This has shown me how the game has truly impacted my life and without it right now it feels like a part of me is missing.

“Looking back, I never really put into perspective all of the great memories I made with my teammates during those big games, bus rides and long practices after school. It is definitely something that I will miss dearly.”

And so, life goes on ... and hopefully when baseball returns there is a better understanding of how important not only sports is in your life, but also so many other things.

“This entire pandemic has really put things into perspective for a lot of us,” pointed out Jason Lariviere, head coach at Thornton Academy in Maine. “You are never guaranteed tomorrow, next week or next month. You never know when your last game will be played. Cherish the things in your life like family, friends, school and sports. Prioritize the important things in your life, work extremely hard each and every day and don't miss any opportunities.”

Joe Garbowski, head coach at New Fairfield, Ct., summed it up well.

“I do believe that things happen for a reason,” Garbowski said. “I feel terrible that this virus has taken so many lives and disrupted many more, but the fact that families have been asked to isolate themselves at home has given them an opportunity to catch up on what matters most … FAMILY.

“I know that it has helped me realize that work, sports and friendships - although very important - can not amount to the importance of the love and bond between your spouse and children. I’ve had the opportunity to build things around the house with the kids, catch up on all the date nights missed with my wife and just enjoy this slow down. It has been very rewarding creating great memories with the ones that count the most!”