Before, during and after the Armorel Tigers' 5-3 loss last Saturday to the Midland Mustangs in the 1A state championship at Baum Stadium, a word kept popping in my head -- resolve.
It's a word the longtime Tiger head coach Charlie Brown repeats over and over to his team throughout the season. It's a word that he talks about so many times that even his players bring it up in interviews.
When you have teenagers repeating what you are saying, you know it must have made a strong impact.
A couple of the various meanings of the word is, "a resolution or determination made, as to follow some course of action," and "firmness of purpose or intent;determination."
Brown often refers to the success of his teams not by wins and losses but by what they do when things seem their worst.
Do they "follow some course of action" to keep getting worse or do they make the "determination" that they don't like how things are going and change them to get better. Either way, there must be a "firmness of purpose or intent" in their "course of action."
Do they point fingers and blame others for the mess they may have inherited or do they with "firmness of purpose or intent" move forward with "determination" and get better.
Most years, an Armorel baseball team usually has over 10 losses on its record before making a strong run through the postseason. Four trips to the state finals in nine years and five consecutive final fours is proof of that. That leads one to believe that his teams make the "determination" to make things better.
The Tigers resolve was on display in the state tournament. Trailing 7-6 and down to their final three outs against Trinity Christian in the semifinals, the Tigers came back with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth to move on.
Despite a losing outcome on Saturday, the Tigers showed resolve throughout the game. After Midland took a 4-1 lead in the third inning with their ace, Drew Fortson, on the mound and throwing well, lesser teams would have just laid down and died. Armorel battled back and came within 90 feet of tying the game in the bottom of the sixth. Tiger pitcher Ty Wagganer showed resolve by battling through six and a half innings to keep his team within striking distance. Relief pitcher, Taylor Hopper, showed resolve by limiting the damage by the Mustangs after coming in with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the seventh.
No, showing resolve doesn't always yield the desired results immediately but it will show up at a later time. Returning Tigers will have the opportunity to make the decision to get back to the title game next year. With six returning starters and a host of talented younger players next year, I'm sure Brown will instill the "firmness of purpose or intent" on making it back to Baum Stadium.
For the three seniors who played their last game in a Tiger uniform last Saturday -- Ryan Sullivan, LaVonta Smith and Bradley Eubanks -- they won't get to show their resolve in another state championship game but I'm sure their experience with Brown will lead them to positively "follow some course of action" with "determination."
afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com