Small town of Hagerstown doing big things
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One need not venture far around the Hagerstown Little League complex counting its baseball fields. There is just one.
This is a small town which houses 1,700 residents. Maybe Indiana native John Mellencamp was singing about Hagerstown when he wrote the song, "Small Town." Whatever the case, this little town with the small Little League is doing some big-time things.
Hagerstown is playing at the Little League World Series for the first time. A dream has become reality. Hagerstown is the first Indiana team to play at the Series since district rival New Castle in 2012 and this team is writing a non-fiction account of a beloved Indiana basketball movie.
"I had several people come up to me after the (Great Lakes) championship and say Hagerstown doesn't have to watch "Hoosiers." They lived it," Hagerstown Little League president Shawn Murphy said. "It means a lot to this community to have the kids in this position. Nothing this big has happened in Hagerstown for a very long time. Being from a town of 1,700 people it means a ton and the support we get from this community is incredible."
So is this team.
Hagerstown's players and coaches have never cared about the league's or town's size. Just line the opponents up and Hagerstown plays them. Hagerstown also defeats them.
This team focuses not on how big the opponent's town is or how good that team is. It just focuses on itself and playing its game.
Combining that mentality with great talent, a relentless work ethic and super coaching and Hagerstown has become one of the world's top 20 Little League teams. Hagerstown entered the Series undefeated, winning in a lot of ways and capturing state and regional championships in dramatic fashion. Graham Vinson hit a walk-off double to send Hagerstown to the Series and keep this movie going strong as Hagerstown edged Kentucky.
"I'm not sure it's real. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up," Hagerstown manager Patrick Vinson said. "It's been quite the ride."
And every player has taken turns driving the bus. Hagerstown has excelled in all facets throughout the summer. Just as important, this team has pulled together, leaned on each other, kept improving and embraced the moments. Together, they have created some unforgettable moments.
Hagerstown won three close games at regionals and never flinched after a late three-run lead turned into a 3-3 tie against Kentucky in the championship. As it has all season, Hagerstown focused on the next pitch, next play and next at-bat and won, 4-3 in seven innings. It was Vinson's turn to play the hero that day, but all 13 players have shined when their movie moments have come.
"I don't think anything rattles them. They just love the game," Patrick Vinson said. "They love to play baseball and that's how the coaches have approached it. Just go out and have fun and play the game that you love. Everyone has contributed and everyone has embraced his role and they've had fun doing it."
"When this team was assembled I did think we had something special, but we didn't know until (the regional final) how special this group of kids was," Murphy said. "Everybody does their job and that's the mentality they've taken with them from districts to Williamsport. They truly are a team. When they break out of every huddle they say, 'Family!' and that's what they are. They trust each other and pick each other up. They are the embodiment of what baseball players should be."
That's the key. Sports are a great equalizer and a town's size does not measure its character or ability to flourish. Hagerstown was playing much bigger areas from the start and had to get through perennial power New Castle just to get out of districts. Hagerstown won its first six games in blowout fashion before revealing the toughness to complement its talent by winning two one-run thrillers in states.
That state championship victory came against Jasper Youth. Jasper High School has a large 5A high school and Hagerstown is Class A. It was not necessarily David vs. Goliath because Hagerstown already had shown its prowess. But it was a victory for all the small communities out there. And both Hagerstown and the surrounding areas sure appreciate it.
This team basically is a reflection of all those towns.
"It's more than just this team. It's for the community that loves baseball. It's a tight knit community that leans on each other and loves the kids," Vinson said. "It's a place where you go to just relax and watch some baseball. The community and surrounding communities have just been amazing."
It has been a remarkable script authored by this fantastic team. Hagerstown might have just one Little League field but what a group that plays there. And with the impact the Great Lakes champions are making this year, maybe there will be more fields in the future. This unprecedented success all but ensures there certainly will be more players joining the league next year.
Whatever the case, these big-time players from the small down have created quite a legacy. The memories this movie-like team has created likely will never fade to black.
"They're the first team from Hagerstown to make it, so it's pretty sweet. It's a great feeling. The town is on Cloud 9; the kids are on Cloud 9 and they have made the most of everything," Murphy said. "These memories will last the team a lifetime. It's pretty special."