STATE CHAMPIONS!
Grantsburg 5 - Poynette 1
Grantsburg 6 - Lancaster 2
This article is going to take a long time to write...and things will be added each day... Please come back often. This will be much better than reading the Madison papers. It will be written in segments...Each deserves its own space.
So off we went. The coolers were packed. The donations had been received.. The entire teaching staff sent us off with a good luck wave. We were heading towards state. When you have five hours to sit and reflect you have two choices...Watch Coyote Ugly one more time or look out the window... I looked out the window and found myself becoming very reflective. On the drive towards Spooner I watched the woods as the trees sailed by. I noticed broken trees from the tornado. I saw poplar trees growing in small groups.. I saw oaks but I was watching the Pines. As we went farther, there were times when some of the Pines stood taller than others. What makes those trees so magnificent? They grew in the right place. They had proper water and nutrition. They were genetic studs. They survived wind, hail and snow. They battled each day of their lives... and they were lucky. They stand above the rest for all of those reasons. Grantsburg has a team that is just like those Pine trees... They stand alone. They are not ordinary. It is not the coaching or the program or the practice that sets them apart...Every team does the same things...every team has youth programs. It is the Player that wins the State Championship because of talent, skill, and their teammates.. Grantsburg just completed the Perfect Storm..Everything was just right. And these athletes stood tallest of all.
So how do you score 120 runs in a row?
Answer: This team is that good.
So how can you outscore teams 200-1?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you beat another conference champion 25-0?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you shut out sooooo many teams?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you compete with North St. Paul?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you be conference, regional and sectional champ?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you knock of Chippewa when they were in the state championship the year before?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you knock off Poynette when they return everybody from the 2005 State Championship team?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you knock off Lancaster
when they are 24-0?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you go out in the bottom of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th in a championship game?
Answer: This team is that good.
So how can we have the best pitching and catching anywhere?
Answer: This team is that good.
So how can we have the greatest infield in the state?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can we run down and catch shots to the outfield?
Answer: This team is that good.
How can you practice every day with getting bored?
Answer: This team is that good.
And why are we state champs?
Answer: This team is that good.
Pics from the ride and the rest stop. I will have to adjust the size of the pictures later...
The first video of the day was Hardball. It was from that video that signs, dances, and the focus were all obtained. It was about a young team that was going to the Ship (championship game) When thing became tense, they would raise their hands and whisper the song..... It became the theme for the weekend. Wherever we went, we would fast forward to that scene and watch it one more time. And when our WIAA appointed person stood on our bench and joined in......we all smiled... and some of the pressure had been shared. And of course, we always watch Coyote Ugly...and then Nemo was on the screen... And in all of the movies, there was a happy ending.... the miles clicked by.... We stopped and looked for Jeff's buns....scary! then Madison appeared.
We arrived at the motel and checked in. It was the same motel from two years ago. This year, Gilman was there in their high visibility t-shirts and their Hawaiian hats.. We wore black with skulls and guns.... Of course they lost the first game... We found a local school where we could practice. There was a groomed infield and with permission we had a great round of infield and outfield...and a hitting session. After watching some athletes in the distance, everybody decided to run up the hills...carrying their bags....much like the scene from Rocky. Some of our biggest decisions of the year were...Where will we eat? Tonight, it was off to Ponderosa for the buffet. Some of the kids walked...some walked part way and came back...Others plugged their noses and took the bus. It wasn't me. Tonight, nobody compared bellies. Poynette was waiting.
So morning arrived....we had some breakfast and then went back to the field for one more hitting session. The bus soon loaded and we were off to Perkins for pancakes and hair stuff. It would be these corn rows that gave everybody a sunburn on top of their head...way to go Holly.
We put in the movie and headed toward Goodman Diamond..It was show time. Each team is given an official from the WIAA to serve as host. We were directed to the practice area beyond the centerfield fence. We were given 15 minutes on the infield and had unlimited use of the batting cage. The captains were called out and the flip took place. Grantsburg would be the home team vs. Poynette. It was the 6th time in a row that we were the home team. In the regional, it is pre-determined. In the sectionals we actually had to flip a coin. We prepared for Poynette, the defending state champion... whose #1 pitcher was 25-0 over the last two years and held a D1 scholarship in her pocket. Bart and Gary Byl went to the cages and fired rise ball after rise ball. Thanks to both of those pitchers. Gary is originally from the Cushing area and currently helps coach the Rice Lake team. Our girls started to put on their game face. The game ahead of us went into extra innings... We waited... we waited.... the anticipation grew.... we waited...We saw Poynette across the field....Let's get this thing started! It was time....
It was GAME TIME!
Poynette batted first. After a first out strike-out, Poynette singled, got hit by a pitch and singled..They were on the board early and picked up a 1-0 lead. They had thrown the first punch in this heavy weight match and we all waited for Grantsburg to respond. As in so many games, Katie started the bottom of the first with a walk. Mollie placed a perfect bunt and Grantsburg prepared a counter punch. When Jamie put the ball into play, Poynette couldn't take the pressure and the error gave Grantsburg two runs and the lead. The next innings became a battle as both teams made plays and waited for the other team to blink. Poynette blinked in the fifth and Grantsburg jumped all over their jugular vein. Alyssa started the inning with a lead off walk. Katie reached on a fielder's choice.. the pressure on Poynette was mounting. Mollie and Whitney put the ball in play and soon two runs were in...Miranda walked and when she stole second and knocked the ball out of the glove, Whitney marched in with the third run of the inning... Poynette was starting to fold...as Grantsburg put on heavy pressure. But as with all good teams Poynette battled. The lead off Slap hitter put a ball in play... Shelby was on it like a cat....and the crowd went wild.... After another Poynette single, the next ball went to Mollie who turned and threw to Whit who attempted a double play...just short... Two outs..... The Clean up batter stood at the plate...and that is where Mollie left her....at the plate with a K. It was over... The defending state champion was gone...Grantsburg shouted with joy.. We were back, we were loaded and we were going to the ship. (movie talk) Grantsburg was awesome. They had won the game with two bunt singles and a very, very disciplined strike zone. Our girls didn't swing at the rise ball off the nose... And because of that, they drew 6 walks..... And with some very nice baserunning, Poynette did not have an answer. Grantsburg's defense was almost flawless...they made the plays....Poynette could not. With the Pirate package, they always find something to beat you... Nobody throws and catches as well as Grantsburg... It was the difference in the game....Poynette had picked up 6 hits, but the Pirates stingy defense denied their efforts. They had 7 base runners and we had 8. We had five runs...they had one. TGIF was our next destination... by the way...The WIAA gives the kids 17 bucks a day to eat.... It makes for a very special time.....The joy of coaching comes in watching the young athletes smile....and relax...
We slammed ribs....talked big and spit...laughed...shared friendships..created stories..and basically had a good time... the t-shirts had just increased in value...... Lancaster loomed in the distance.... They were ranked #1 and were 24-0. But for tonight, we paused and celebrated. For this night, life was good. We slept...many with very strange dreams....including home runs and t-shirts flying through the air. Dreams are fun.
IT WAS GAME TIME!
We had watched Lancaster when they won their game. They did not have the same pitching, but they had hitting and fielding... We could see why they were in the middle of a perfect season.. They were good. It is very appropriate when the #1 team gets to the championship...It is the way it is supposed to be.....
And the game began. It became an epic battle...Mollie starts to hammer away at the batters...Line shot to Mollie, line shot to Mollie... Shelby skies...Whitney is a machine...Jamie is all over... Lindsey is snagging every throw...Alyssa runs it down in the gap.. Sarah fields the high flyball...Katie covers both gaps.... It is Ali and Frazier just hammering each other... Miranda hits a shot...caught in left... Mollie rifles a rocket...caught in right... Grantsburg loads the bases.....nothing...Grantsburg loads the bases....nothing...Grantsburg gets a runner to third ...nothing.... nobody blinks.. The fans are into it...the radio people are skipping weddings just to listen...the world pauses....Lancaster and Grantsburg have locked horns...they remain perfect.....
Grantsburg doesn't score in the top of the seventh...Mollie is pitching a perfect game in a state tournament and the world is watching.. Lancaster gets a shot.... BANG...single...runner on first and nobody out....the knuckles turn white.... Then BANG...a line shot aiming up the middle...With the grace of Grantsburg Whitney flies up the middle and stabs it...and guns her out with precision for a double play. Shelby follows with another perfect play....we go to the 8th....
Grantsburg gets nothing.... The Pirates fly out of the dugout with purpose on their faces to play the bottom of the 8th. Lancaster gets nothing as Grantsburg fields all three balls. The teams warming up for the next game stop warming up and gather at the fence to watch.
Grantsburg puts on the pressure in the top of the ninth. Shelby singles.....Lancaster stiffens... The Pirates again race to the field and prepare for one more test. With two outs, Lancaster rips a single...then Lancaster rips a single... Runners are now in scoring position... The knuckles are no longer white....they are gray! Mollie locks her jaw and throws to Lindsey for out #3...
The Pirates come to bat... the wedding is almost done back home..Alyssa rips one to left. Katie knocks one off the third baseman...knuckles are returning to white. Mollie puts the ball into play...Lancaster responds...Whitney puts the ball into play...Lancaster responds...Miranda puts the ball into play...Lancaster BLINKS....Two runs cross the plate and Goodman diamond goes wild.....text messages are flying...cell phones are ringing.....The Pirates charge to the field preparing to add the final touches... Lancaster was undefeated for many reasons...One reason is that they never quit. With one out...BANG... single ....She scores....They have a runner on third with one out.....the infield is up... It is what we practice every day..... BALL 4... she walks.. she rounds first....and makes the move to second.. The tying run stands at third watching... The winning run pauses...as she tries to draw the throw.....WE WILL NOT LET THE WINNING RUN WALK INTO SECOND. We did not come here to play conservatively... We came to win... The throw goes to second...OUT>... the throw goes to the plate...there is a slide...there is dust.... the umpire circles the players...looking for the ball...It is on the ground...SAFE! the game is tied. They had given us two runs...we gave them back.
Grantsburg bats in the top of the 11th...Nothing. With fire in their eyes they again storm the field in the bottom of the 11th...their is purpose in their eyes....BANG...single... Then grounder to Mollie...who turns and finds Whit who goes for the double play again...just short...With two outs, Lancaster hits a grounder to short... bad choice...Out #3.
The Pirates dash into the dugout and prepare to bat. Katie rips one to left..Mollie rips one to right. Whitney puts a bunt in front of the plate...the catcher dives....and catches it in the web....saving sure doom... Miranda comes to the plate... the world pauses...the birds quit singing...the teams warming up watch.... the bathrooms are empty....right scott?....Here comes the pitch....CRACK....it is deep to center....she goes back...Katie is tagging...Mollie stands within inches...the centerfielder goes all the way back to 220 mark and puts out her glove....gets part of it......it drops...Katie and Mollie fly to plate with arms in the air.....Lancaster had blinked... and Grantsburg pounced. You could sense it in the air...the Pirates were nailing this one shut. Jamie reached on a feilder's choice... Sarah singles...Lindsey singles.....and soon four HUGE runs have crossed the plate.....
Grantsburg does not blink... They are like a machine with fire in their eyes..It is a special group.. This is an elite bunch.. the world needs to know this....They are awesome...they are tough... Both pitchers were getting tired....but again...Lancaster didn't have anybody...we brought in Jamie...she was clocked at 61...the fastest pitches of the day...she gritted her teeth...grounder to Mollie....great play......grounder to Jamie...great play.... With two outs, Lancaster had one more chance.... A ball hit over Whit's head at short... she turned and ran...the people in the stands stood..Whit kept going...Sarah came in......from my view, the ball disappeared between them...there was a moment of silence.....and Whitney raised the ball....and the Grantsburg team raised their hands and their bodies...The place went wild.... It was over.... Grantsburg had used ALL of its talents and for a moment in time...Things were perfect.....The party started.....
and that is how it happened.......
Olive garden was fun.... the kids were tired....the stress and the efforts quieted them for a long time... but soon...the energy was back... and Olive Garden had to close the doors......the kids were back.... they were no longer kids.... We drove to Grantsburg to this wonderful welcome.. the kids felt special... thanks to ALL of you.... It was great.... Some of these pictures are too high in resolution.. I will change them later..
TYIS: You athletes are lucky to have Don Bjelland in your dugout... He cares about you much more than he cares about winning. A state championship is not the only reason to play the game... did you enjoy blaze orange night? did you enjoy playing in the dome? did you enjoy playing in the cold at Luck? did you get to know anybody new? did you enjoy the bus ride? did you enjoy practice? did you say thanks to your parents?
It is only a game...but WE were GOOD..... Life is often compared to a game. When the game goes well, stop and celebrate.... The Game and Life will go well when you have close relationships on which you can depend... Sometimes you have to carry your friends when times are rough... and sometimes they will carry you... Allow both to happen...Life is not making lots of money or having a special job...Life is having friends...enjoying the moment...living through the errors.... and making those ordinary plays....that allow you to accomplish the extra-ordinary. This was an awesome team. They counted on each other..... and now their legacy is.... They were the best in the state....
so...take time to enjoy...then cut the grass and clean your room... Have you done anything important yet, today??? Make stories.......
From the bottom of my heart.... Thank you.. You will be remembered forever.
Sincerely, Steve Johnson
ps: Scott hoffman has another 300 pics..Jeff evenson..the same...Deb AJ has video..as does Marilyn...and the game will be available on DVD...so we can alllll live it one more time.
In the meantime...visit the STATE tournament from two years ago...
AA! forever.