submitted to EFP
The Essex Junior baseball Team was unable to defend their 2017 “AA” Provincial Championship, but finished with a silver medal at the 2018 “AA” Provincial Championships on the August 10 weekend. However, that was secondary to playing in its final Essex Minor Baseball game of the players careers as a team.
This was an emotional end for a group of teammates that have had a great ride. The core of this group has participated in 6 provincial finals in 6 years.
Their dedication to improving was something to watch as they went from young ball players who struggled, to a team that others were worried about playing.
The first year of putting the team together, every player was asked what they wanted and the answer from everyone was “We want to compete with the better teams.” The expectations were set that night, in the gym, and the wheels put in motion to get where we are today. This was their decision!
Over the next eight years, this group reached many milestones together. They captured three provincial gold and three provincial silver. The team only missed progressing to the semi-finals once, out of its last 24 tournaments. The team finished one season with a 42-1-2 record, played a College Team from Mexico, and stole the plate in the 7th inning, while down one run, with two strikes on a batter, to win the game.
Essex had a ‘no hitter’ in the Provincial Semi-Final, and finished up 7-3 against AAA Teams from the greater Toronto area.
After the team left the diamond on Sunday, it was brought to the coaches’ attention that someone left their Medal because it was only second place. The medal was tucked away for delivery at a later time. This medal will be reflected upon over years to come when you think of your friends and all of your great memories at the ball park.
Thirty years from now, you will think of your friends, remember your youth and always have these great memories. There is winning but there is nothing like winning with your friends (your baseball family).
As you move forward in the next phase of your lives, please work as hard and you did the last eight years and you will be successful. Good luck & be safe!