Champions even in defeat!

By Tammy Bowers

Howard County Youth Program (HCYP) held their championship baseball game on June 26th.  With the Orange team entering the championship round undefeated, and the Black team having one loss in the double elimination competition, the stage could not have been set more perfectly for an exciting day for everyone.  The game started at 10:00 a.m. but then became a double header with extra innings in both games, when the Black team took round one in a barn burner.

The teams were very well matched for an exciting championship game.  From beginning to end this amazing group of young men, coaches and Umpires all performed in extraordinary fashion under high heat, high humidity and high pressure.

In game one the Orange team got off to a flying start scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.  In the bottom of the third Kenyon Pinnock go the Black team on the board by stealing home plate.  The score remained 2-1 until the seventh inning when a pair of doubles broke things open to a 4-1 advantage.  But, the Black team was not done.  Aided by a few walks and a couple singles, they made the most of their turn in the seventh inning, tieing the score at 4-4 and sending the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eight inning the Black team wasted no time putting the contest into the win column via a couple of doubles, the last of which by Ben Tucker accounting for the winning run.

The win by the Black team set up a late afternoon showdown that started much the way the first one did.  With the Orange again breaking out on top with two runs in the top of the first, the Black team this time pulled in closer with a run in their half of the first inning.

After adding a run in the top of the third to take the score to 3-1 in its favor the Orange team was met with a barrage started by a Tyler Palmer 3 run homer which gave the Black team the advantage.  The Black team added two more runs before the inning was over stretching their lead to 6-3.

After adding an additional run to make things 7-3 in their favor the Orange team returned the favor with a barrage of their own which included a 3 run homer by Greg Jacobs.  The Orange added another run in the top of the seventh to again send the game into extra innings.

The whole affair came to an end in favor of the Orange team when their 1 run eighth went unmatched by the Black team in their half of the inning.  “This is more exciting than watching the O’s play and these boys have talent, some even play as well as any college level team”, commented one father in attendance.

Family & friends were treated to one of the most exciting contest you could have asked for.  Both teams had extraordinary player’s ages 15 years through 18 years.  Several of these players have had the good fortune to have played within the HCYP program since they were 5 years old.

As a parent I was very proud of my son, Zach and his team, though they lost, they played with pride, respect, a little humor and are still part of a winning team because they all supported each other and came together as a team as they have all season!

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Tammy Bowers is a marketing advisor and principle with Rolling Ads of Maryland.  Tammy is also a Charter Member of the Village Connector Online Community Newspaper and a member of our advisory board.

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