18 (19 in November) years ago my mom brought home a little boy, who apparently is my brother. I was only 21 months old and had already developed the personality I have today and said "Take him back Mommy" before she even managed to get all the way in the door.
Many fights, one stabbing and millions of good times later my little brother, who I never really wanted, was getting ready to graduate.
It is a big time in my families lives because the youngest is getting ready to graduate and it has finally sunk in with me that my baby brother isn't really a baby anymore...in fact...he is an adult. But this was a bigger moment in his life then it was ours. Friday night Brooks would graduate with his class of 2011 then on Saturday we would play in the State Championship for baseball.
I can honestly say that I have never been more proud of him in his entire life. So I am writing a blog about it and will explain how everything went down.
The first game I was PRAYING more then anything they'd win. (Though later there would be another game I'd be praying for). I wanted the first game to win so bad for 2 reasons. 1) Brooks started out on first, it was his last game we were all pretty sure so I really wanted him to win it, that way no matter what happens at least he could look back knowing he won the last game he played in. Selfish but I don't care ha. 2) If they win the first game they are at least guaranteed a game 3 if they loose the second game. Well Hillgrove almost came back but We won!!! What a relief!.
The second game we were playing pretty well but HillGrove caught up and tied the game 10 10 in the last inning we were still tied. I don't remember exactly how many extra inning there for but I think at least 3 or 4. Neither team was really getting any hits. It was a stale mate. I was really nervous but it was good to know that no matter what happened we still would have Monday..though I wish we wouldn't have needed Monday. I will give HUGE props to Phillip Taylor, he is one of Parkviews Senior pitches and he pitched all those extra inning plus a few more before they went into extra innings AND he pitched some in the first game. Phillip and the rest of the Panthers in the field played a LONG hard game and worked there asses off but sadly they lost.
Luckily there was always Monday.
Today (Monday) I think everyone was so nervous. Today was a day all of those boys will remember forever, but we were all hoping they'd remember it for positive reasons. The game was a close match for the first 3 or 4 inning where Parkview lead most of the time the HillGrove went ahead 10 to 8. It wasn't that big of a leave but for the next few inning neither team was scoring, leaving HillGrove in the lead going into the 7th inning. Feelings were kind of low in the stands. We were all so worried, PHS were visitors this game so we batted first and if we didn't at least get 2 run to tie the game we'd be done.
I am not exactly sure what was said but Brooks seemed to have a "talk" with the team on the field before entering the last inning. This would be his last inning of high school ball even though he wasn't playing. It didn't look much like a talk as it did like Brooks yelling at them. Hopefully encouraging words..which I assume were encouraging after I saw they way they batted. I don't know if he used positive or negative reinforcements but it looked like he swapped those kids with pros!! While they were playing a great game, they were not doing well enough to knock in any runs for a few innings (and neither was the other team) the score was still 10 to 8 with us behind.
Before the inning started I had told Troy and Virginia, whos little brother was also a senior on the team and whos father is a veteran and got to throw the first pitch because it was memorial day, that we need to get to at least 20 runs to be safe and win.
Well Parkview decided that they'd one me up and make it 21 to 10. They scored 13 runs in the 7th inning! It was probably one of the most amazing things to watch. The crowd was so hyped up and the boys were all doing amazing. Just with the first 3 runs were they knew they were still in it, it was like it was an all knew ball game and all of them knew they had what it would take to be state champions. HillGrove didn't manage to score and PARKVIEW WON STATE!!!!
I was so happy!! It was so amazing to watch these kids who I've been rooting for for so long get the ultimate prize and win state. I was so proud! watching them celebrate and celebrating with them was amazing!! I was so happy for them and my little brother I almost cried tears of joy, and I didn't do shit but watch.
When some people started running on the field the stands I was in were hardly moving. Well I said "AW HELL *BAD WORD ending in ING* NAW" and I proceeded down the crowded bleachers and onto the field pushing through these people who seemed to care less that we won followed by Jenny, Troy and Virginia to celebrate with them and my brother. It was so exciting the energy was amazing. I'd advise everyone to watch there little brothers high school team win state just once in their lives...or maybe win won yourself.
I almost felt bad pushing through all those people...but I mean when it looked like we were obviously going to win...I did say I'd be pushing through them to get on the field...fair warning. Plus they were blocking the stairs...It was a fire hazard anyway.
The officer on the field tried to tell us no don't go any farther....but it was the officer from our high school. He is a great guy but honestly there was more of us then there was him...and hes getting alittle old.
It was so much fun! I was so proud. And I guess now that baseball is over my little brother is finally a grown up and my family now has no attachments to PHS.
I have watched him grow up for 18 years and now he is off to play college baseball! I am so proud of him and hope he achieves so much more in life :)
Love you little bro.
Twin
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