Sabers Win Emotional District Championship
Twin Cedars Sabers pose after claiming their district championship (photo by Shelly Spaur)
by Shelly Spaur
District Championship Game – Twin Cedars vs. Pleasantville – 07/20/2013
#22’s shirt hangs on the left field fence. Everywhere you look gray shirts with a baseball and wings read, “Derek Springer 22, Our Angel in the Outfield”. Mothers scream as fathers pace. The excitement of the game played in honor of their teammate, friend, and brother fills the air. As a Twin Cedars Sabers ball player steps up to the plate, at bat for the first time in the game, he raises his bat to the sky, a sign that he and the rest of the team have more than just a ballgame on their minds. This is more than just a game today, played for more than any title or trophy. This game today means that, in Derek’s mothers words, “He lives on through the game”. Three years ago the idea of being district champions would have been a mere dream, yet today, these boys have made that dream a reality.
In the first inning, Twin Cedars scores 2 runs to Pleasantville’s O. The 2nd inning ends in a scratch for both teams as they battle for the title of District Champions. As the 3rd inning progresses, Dylan, Derek’s twin brother, is put in as a pinch runner. He immediately takes off from 2nd base, rounds 3rd and slides into home, adding a run to Twin Cedars score in honor of his twin.
When expressing his thoughts on being put in the game, Dylan Springer had to say, “When I got on 2nd base tonight to pinch run for Corey Harrell, for only the 2nd time this season, a lot of thoughts went through my head… I stood there thinking of Derek and I could just hear him saying to me ‘Dylan you better not get gunned at home or I will run for ya next time.’ So Drew Carlson hits a single up the middle and I round 3rd and score!! I miss you so much Derek… we are in sub-state Bro… and we don’t plan on stopping there! Our team and community loves and misses you… I love you Bro and I’m proud to be your Brother :,)” At the end of the 3rd, the score is Twin Cedars 3, Pleasantville 0.
Innings four and five continue on with no runs scored. In the 6th inning, the energy shoots to the sky as Otis Roby hits a double to center field with 2 RBI’s and a new score of 5-0. With that, Pleasantville decides it’s time for a new pitcher to take the mound. This seems to take away some of the steam the Sabers had building, and the 6th inning ends with the score remaining 5-0.
The seventh inning begins with a rough couple of bats for the Sabers. With two outs, Drew Carlson hits a single and Eric Clark hits a double, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd for Twin Cedars. Collin Still then steps up to bat and hits a fly ball to center field that is caught. Twin Cedars takes the field for the final time in the District Final Game. Otis Roby continues his outstanding pitching job for the Sabers, and Pleasantville is again held to no score. The game ends with a roar from the Sabers crowd. Tears flow and smiles abound as the team huddles up for an after game talk with their coaches. As the team breaks, one more time we hear the chant, “22”!
The Twin Cedars Sabers now go on to sub-state this coming Tuesday, July 23rd, with a time and place yet to be released.
