The Shady Spring baseball team has lived by one simple phrase all season – find a way.
The Tigers bought into those words wholeheartedly and now stand two wins away from a state championship trophy.
“It has been a bond and a brotherhood. We wear “family” shirts every time we warm up. That is just what we are in every sport here at Shady Spring,” head baseball coach Jordan Meadows said. “I told (Shady Spring head basketball coach Ronnie) Olson, it’s the Shady Spring community as a whole. We stick together and do the right things. We have found a way the entire postseason. We weren’t expected to beat Independence. We weren’t expected to beat Bluefield as the higher seed, but we came out on top and we are the Region 3 champs.”
Shady Spring started the season red-hot with six straight wins including triumphs over Class AAA foes Greenbrier East and Princeton.
Heading into their showdown with sectional rival Independence, who many felt was the team to beat in Class AA, the Tigers were looking to make an early season statement.
After a 20-5 drubbing from the Patriots, Shady Spring stood at a crossroad. The Tigers could either fall apart or find a way.
“It was probably right after the Coppinger Tournament when we lost a tough one to Tazewell, Va.,” Meadows explained about the turnaround for his team. “Then we went right into spring break and just had a lot of fun together. We went bowling and did a lot of cool things. We knew none of the games mattered in the regular season and we were playing to be ready for sectionals. They started hitting during that spring break week in Elkins and we only lost three games the rest of the year. You could see at that time that the tide was turning for us.”
Senior pitcher David Young was a freshman the last time Shady Spring played in the state tournament and he talked about how that experience helped this year’s team.
“When everyone bought in, that team in 2019 really started to play better and we played team baseball. It showed that when everyone buys in, you can win every game,” Young said.
Not only did each player buy-in, every player Meadows put on the field contributed at a key time in the postseason to help the Tigers stun the Patriots and rally past the Beavers.
“We really kept up the motivation and energy throughout practice. With the seniors being in the situation where they had been to states in 2019, they knew what it would take to get there,” Meadows said. “This team really stuck together and picked each other up. When one guy strikes out, the next guy is going to make something happen. No matter what the circumstances, this group finds a way and it is awesome to watch.”
That “find a way” mentality will be tested again in the opening game of the state tournament Thursday when the Tigers battle defending Class AA state champion Logan.
Game time is 4:30 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston.
Shady will also be looking for a touch of redemption after dropping the regular season meeting between the two schools, 10-0 at Logan.
“(Logan head coach) Kevin Gertz does a great job with them. They do the right things. They bunt it over when they have to and they find a way to win also,” Meadows said. “It is going to be a dogfight. Cam (Manns) pitched the first one and we will see who we put on the mound in the game. Whether it is Cam or Alex, one way or another, we are going to find a way to win.”
Meadows is hoping his team can get a quick start against the Wildcats.
“Being the visiting team, we need to jump on them early and try to put the pressure on them,” Meadows said. “Whoever we have pitching, hopefully they can shut them down, 1-2-3, and take away the first inning jitters from playing in Power Park. Half of these kids haven’t seen Power Park.”
One thing the Tigers have going for them is the fact that they have played in some bigger venues this year.
“Just playing regionals at Bowen Field and playing the Coppinger at Hunicutt Stadium, they get the bigger, wide open feel, but I know there will still be some jitters at Power Park,” Meadows said, laughing. “There will be some jitters for me coaching third base, I can promise you that.”