Upon Further Review

Back in May I asked if it was OK to start using “state contender” and “Waynesboro baseball” in the same sentence. I mean, the Little Giants had just swept the season series from the Valley’s Evil Empire (Turner Ashby) and were looking pretty darn good while doing it.

E-mails soon were shot my way and, well, let’s just say I was called a “homer” and a few other things that, let’s be honest here, are not true. (No, I dress myself in the morning; Yes, I do shower, but thanks; Of course I go to games, that’s my job; No, I didn’t buy my wife online and sorry, but my mother does not wear combat boots, anything else?). Nobody said it as clearly as one message-board regular on VirginiaPreps.com who simply said, “No.“

I mean, all the Little Giants are these days is 19-6 and, after an impressive 6-2 win over red-hot Abingdon (you know, a team that beat Hidden Valley, the team with one, two, three Division I signees and stuff) which, by the way, earned the Little Giants their second straight trip to the Group AA Final Four.

All I’m saying is, they have a near-untouchable lefty named Joseph Lucas (let’s not mention he’s a junior, that just might scare some folks) and another junior that gets on base like most of us get on couches and touches more homes than a mile-wide tornado named Terrell Thompson.

They’ve got a senior first baseman, Josh Craig, who was beating himself up Monday over his lack of production in the regional tournament, then sparks the Little Giants’ offense with a two-run double (a double? The one you all call “Hammy” legged out a double?) in what, up to this point, was the biggest game of the season.

They’ve got a senior left fielder who got off to a slow start thanks to going deep in the wrestling season, Will Freeman, but whose bat has become more alive, perky and annoying (to opponents) than Richard Simmons.

I could go on, but I’m tired and worn out. Kind of like some of your arguments against the Little Giants. (TA was down this year and the like. The Southern Valley was weak. Or, my favorite, deciding to pay more attention to a dead horse in Kentucky.)

So, let me just ask again. Now that the Little Giants are in the Final Four (again), making a trip to Pulaski (again) and on the cusp of something pretty cool for a town that would celebrate a state title in tiddlywinks, can we start using “Waynesboro baseball” and “state title contender” in the same sentence?

You know me, I’m just asking.

And another thing: Think the whole time Lucas was mowing down the Falcons (he struck out five) and keeping them from touching home plate (they only scored two runs) those Abingdon fans were thinking, “You know, if only the Lucas family hadn’t moved out of the area in the 1980s, he’d be on our team.“ Just asking (again)?

Think Josh Craig got his confidence back? I mean, a two-run double will do that to a man (again, did he really leg out a double. I demand video of this!).

Since the Meltdown at the KC during the Southern Valley title game, everyone on this team talks about not getting down on themselves, keeping their cool and just playing their game. “Keep our heads up,“ is another familiar refrain uttered during practice at the KC.

Finally, they get it. And it’s been paying dividends.

Calfee Park is a beautiful place to watch a game. Playing there two straight years, I imagine, is just as satisfying.

Hey, did you ever answer my question? You know, the one about Waynesboro being a state title contender?

The is up and open, let us await your replies.

Late addition

Sigh. Adults ruining high school sports again.