June 1, 2006

1998- Nothing like starting off your varsity career by coming two outs from a perfect game. Especially when at the time I was pretty much a one-pitch pitcher. It was at [not-yet-named] Saddlemire Field vs. Missisquoi. With one out in the seventh, a slow chopper headed between the second-base hole and first. Mark Carpenter, our second baseman at the time, made a diving stop in shallow right field...unbelievable grab. But it was so far out he had no shot at first with a fast runner. I then walked the next guy, then I got a double play.

My sophomore year was unbelievable (or lucky, however you see it). I never pitched or played any better defense than that year. (we won't talk about my hitting: it sucked!). That year I truly felt like I was playing with the big boys. Out of 17 games that year, I saw about 10 left-handed starters (I am doomed as a lefty hitter) and about eight of them probably threw 80+.

1999- I ended up blowing out my knee, ending half of my basketball season as well as all of baseball. This made the next year for me SLOW.

2000- In 2000 I think we began the season with 11 players on our roster and maybe one or two were gone during April vacation. In the end, we ended on Centennial Field for the championship. I got the start and made 23 pitches to the first batter. I still give Ty Pratt (my catcher) grief every time I see him because pitch seven was popped up right over the plate, and he fell on his back. It was a tough eight-inning loss, but a great experience nonetheless.

I have had many baseball accomplishments in my career, and am glad that it went through CHS.

I will pat myself on the back by saying I was the only pitcher in CHS history to start a D1 championship game.

I certainly hope that this championship experience will happen again for CHS in the future.

I will finish my excerpt by giving you a memorable moment my senior year at CVU ... Denny Barnard (a good umpire, might I add) was the plate umpire, and [former CVU head coach] Adam Provost and Dave Saddlemire (who now coach the Cannons together) were the coaches. There was a close play at the plate, and Ty Pratt had totally plowed over Bobby Primo (their catcher and a good friend of mine). Denny had made the call and called him out. [Provost] comes out and lights into Denny saying that you can't plow the catcher and he should be tossed for two games. I will never forget the comment made by Denny - "Yeah, you're right ... you're gone!" (at Ty) Saddie comes out and says, "You can't let him manipulate you like that!" Denny says, "You're right, he can stay in the game." After two more switched calls, Saddie prevails, and Ty remains in the game, although we lose [15-9].

I wish all of you future CHS baseball grads the best of luck!