The T. C. Williams baseball team finished their regular season last week dropping a game to Annandale at home by a 9-3 score and then finishing the season with a 3-2 loss to the West Potomac Wolverines at West Potomac. Although the Titans regular season didnt end as they had hoped, they finished the regular season at 11-9, the best regular season record in memory.
The highlight of the week for the Titans occurred before the teams even took the field as the Titans honored their 7 senior players before taking on the Annandale on Tuesday night.
The seven seniors were the heart and soul of the Titans lineup. At the plate, the seniors batted a collective .371. On the mound, senior starters Sam Alexander, Sam Bair, Tim Mannel and Lee Tackett notched all 11 of the Titans regular season wins. However, what these seniors mean to the T. C. Williams team and the T. C. Williams baseball program goes far beyond mere statistics.
When asked to describe the contributions of the senior class to the T. C. Williams baseball program head coach Scott Grossi summed up his feelings about the senior class by saying this senior class is truly special to me. We both began our T. C. baseball careers five years ago they were 8th graders playing on J. V. and I was beginning my first year as a Varsity assistant coach. I have seen this group of seniors grow from boys into young men. I have watched as their baseball skills have gone from little league talent to high school productivity.
They came to T. C. at a time when winning was just an afterthought and they will leave at a time when winning is expected. This is not a coincidence. Both on and off the field, this program has changed tremendously in those five short years. This senior class was an integral part of that successful change and they should be proud of their individual and team accomplishments.
I wish all of them the best of luck in their future endeavors and ask them to always remember that I am just a quick phone call, email, or text away.
The change in the attitude and expectations of the players in the program is evidenced not only by their improved record, but in their approach to the game. In 2001, the Titans recorded an overall record of 1-13. In each succeeding season since then, the Titans have won games than the year before culminating in this seasons 11 victories. More importantly, perhaps, is the way the team has achieved their wins. The Titans trailed at some point in 7 of their 11 victories and achieved 3 of their victories this season in their final at bat. Even in defeat, the Titans battled in each game to the final out sending a message to every opponent that in order to get a win against the Titans the opposition will have to beat them because the Titans will never quit. Congratulations to this years senior class for their accomplishments on the field (all seven seniors received All-Patriot District recognition) as well their accomplishments off the field (all seven seniors will be attending the college of their choice this fall).
