Season ends, there's always next year!

This season ended in Troy once again, after 2 losses in the Liberty League tournament. For those who are not seniors, next year awaits. For our seniors, this had to be bittersweet with thoughts of what could have been. We certainly had our opportunities, and were in both games with realistic opportunities to turn the game in our favor with a timely hit or 2. We just were not able to string together enough hits at the right time against RPI, and St. Lawrence came down to the last at bat, after the team came back in the top of the 9th.

Congratulations to Skidmore - the 4th seed came in and surprised everyone by winning it all pretty easily and by having all facets of the game ready at the right time. They had great pitching, defense and their offense was clicking. All the best to them as they represent our conference in the NCAA tournament. The rest of the field will be announced on Monday, and I will be surprised if RPI gets a bid. They were highly regarded, but a 1-2 conference tournament may, and I think should, bounce them from the NCAA's. St. Lawrence would have a beef if RPI gets in and they do not, as they defeated RPI to get to the conference finals.

As far as next year goes, we lose 3 important seniors, but there are underclassmen waiting to step in. This year's freshman class stepped up and did a great job, the future is bright for them. Next year will be an important year, as a larger senior class leaves at the end of next season.

Expectations for next year have been set very high by those seniors. For many of them, next year is the reality of their last year of competitive baseball, as they graduate and go on to the next stages of their lives.

As the parents of one of the too soon to be seniors, how can we have a senior in college??? We were affected by watching the emotions of the Infurna family, as they were experiencing what we and others will have to face next season, whenever and wherever the final game will be. The thought crossed our minds that it is so final and so sudden and we were not ready for this season to end. We all said quick goodbyes, see you next season, etc. but then we actually made 2 stops along the thruway to see other parents and the team one more time!

What a great surprise for all of us, to see Mike and Jan Fuke arrive for the tournament all the way from Hawaii!!

We have so enjoyed this team and this group of parents. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the fall and especially in Florida next spring!! We also look forward to welcoming the freshman parents to our family next year.

Please keep the blog alive over the summer with reports of your sons exploits over the summer - baseball, work, interships, grad school, etc. Many of the boys will be playing somewhere, several of them away from home. Keep us all posted with team website addresses, season updates, etc. I will promise to update anything that I am aware of, to include the Jackets summer team in the local summer league coached by Bob Sansone.

I intend to keep the email list current, so please let me know of any email address changes. You will not be removed until you ask me to, so those who have seniors this past year and in the future can remain in contact with those who remain. We have a rich baseball history at the U of R, that we are all a chapter of, as our sons move through the program.