Some 11 years ago, on a damp March afternoon, the ‘pop’ of cowhide baseball hitting leather gloves echoed across NDSS’ small gym.
On the gym stage a net was being hung to act as an impromptu batting cage.
After receiving a tip from another teacher, this reporter had arranged a meeting with coach Daryl Sheffield. The reason for the visit was to talk hardball: sources had indicated plans were in place for a Golden Hawks baseball team. Yes, baseball. Not softball.
Upon entering the gym and taking a look around, it appeared as though the rumours were true. NDSS was really going to field a baseball team for the upcoming KASSAA season.
As an avid baseball fan, this development was of keen personal interest for this reporter. There was also the intriguing news angle of the story. Fast pitch hotbed Napanee would be moving from a diamond with a pitcher’s circle and 60 feet baselines to the world of overhand pitches, mounds and 90 foot baselines. Would the softball stars have trouble with the curve? Would those skills learned from Softball Napanee translate on the hardball diamond?
There were some certainly learning moments along the way, but by in large the Golden Hawks were always competitive, though not quite strong enough to swing with the upper echelon of KASSAA teams. They could still give the established programs a run for their money, even beating a Bayridge Blazers team fronted by Matt Brash, who is currently pitching the late innings for the Seattle Mariners in the major leagues.
Still though, by the time the semifinals rolled around, if the Hawks had made it that far that was always the end of the line of an otherwise pretty good season.
That was until last week, when the Hawks finally broke through in the playoffs, not just reaching the finals, but to paraphrase the fictional character Roger Dorn from the 1989 film Major League: ‘they won the whole darn thing’. The ‘whole thing’ being a KASSAA championship. Quite an accomplishment for the school and a great way to show this town is more than just a softball town-though Napanee is still quite skilled at that too.
Napanee’s KASSAA baseball title was the perfect way to cap off what is unquestionably the most successful season of school athletics for the Golden Hawks.
Name a team or sports program, chances are this year’s club had one of its best seasons to date with more than a few of them reaching heights never before reached in decades, if not ever. It wasn’t just the quality of athletic success, but the quantity.
The good times started in September and kept rolling through June with both individual and team successes in a wide array of sports including volleyball, hockey, curling, swimming, cross-country, track and field, rugby, wrestling, softball and baseball.
NDSS’ trophy case is no doubt looking a little full these days. Full credit goes to both athletes and the coaches who have put in countless hours after school to hone their skills.
-Adam Prudhomme