The All Star Poem

The District Championship, we've been there before,
At 11 and 12, you knocked on the door.
Rondout always seemed to be in the way,
Last year, not enough girls, we did not even play.
13 girls, 3 coaches set off on a quest,
To give it a run, give it their best.
The new All Star uniforms scattered around,
The wrong sizes, and besides not enough could be found.
Wearing Gold shirts, pants royal blue,
We added gold socks to look somewhat new.

First stop was Ellenville, a team from the west,
Played great in the field, but did not hit our best.
Keeping it close, the defense was great,
A throw out at third, a tag at the plate.
It went for a while with the score tied a one,
We cracked a long double, then scored the big run.
Facing basses loaded 1 out, in top of the sixth,
Changed pitchers, a double play, got out of the fix.
Held on to win, just 2 -1,
Very releived, the first hurdle was done.

To Kerhonkson against Hurley, hit better today,
Great game all around, led all the way.
Needed 2 pitchers to see the game through,
Won after 6, by the 10 run rule.
15-4 was the final score,
Playing Rondout away would be the next chore.
The winners final, against Rondout again,
Deja Vu, 2 years ago, we'd like some revenge.
Did not swing well, throughout the game,
We simply hit too many in the air today.
Although 7 runs was all to be found,
It was enough with the great game from on the mound.
Rondout held to just 3 unearned runs,
Highland advances, one more game to be won.

The Final at Hurley was no pitchers duel,
Good thing we had on our hitting shoes.
Sent 9 batters to bat before the first out,
Looked like it would be easy, maybe a rout.
But Hurley had heart, and never gave in,
This was a fight, we needed more runs to win.
Whenever we scored, they came roaring back,
After 5, 19-16, they were closing the gap.
We made some mistakes, spirit slipping away,
Down on themselves, down on teammates, nerves getting frayed.
Time to find out if this team's truly Gold,
Collected ourselves and a message was told.
We are in this together, there will be no blame,
Be the team that you can be, and finish this game.
The fans behind them and Cee cheering loud,
The lift that they needed, came from the crowd.
With composure and courage they reached down inside,
Took to the field with a renewed sense of pride.
The final 2 innings no hits and no runs,
20-16, the game finally done.

You ran together, jumping up, falling down,
I hugged all I could find, until I too hit the ground.
I stepped back and I watched you both smile and cry,
Parents, coaches, and friends, a great sense pride.
This was your moment, a destination reached,
The flag, a symbol, to remember this feat.
We now must add patches, a small price to pay,
For the wonderful memory, you gave us that day.
But all travels end, this too was our fate,
But it does not change the fact, that the journey was great.
Though we always play to win, sometimes we fall,
I'd rather play and lose, than not play at all.

To the Gold and the Blue, that have come together,
We've shared something special, lasting forever.
You finally opened the door, fulfilling the dream
You are Champions, Queens of Distruct 16.

Coach Phil 7/26/00

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