Centerville Elks baseball team lives Best Day Last
DAYTON, Ohio — The Centerville High School varsity baseball program created a demanding schedule this season, playing our traditional GWOC (Greater Western Ohio Conference) rivals, along with state powers Elder, Moeller, St. Xavier and others. Our players responded to the challenge and continued to push, to uphold our standard of playing Best Game Last.
Numerous sophomores were major contributors, along with upperclassmen, including seniors Karson Adkins, Jaydon Benson (team captain), Zach Hamrick, Dalton Mathews, Drake Wells and Miles Whitesell. Among those with career years were Karson and junior Jackson Clark (team captain). More important than putting up huge numbers, both were leaders for us, on and off the field. With Jaydon off the mound, the Elks were able to have a terrific year.
For the first year ever, high school baseball allowed catcher communication. Catchers were permitted to use an earpiece, to have pitches called directly from the dugout. This rule is similar to that in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and MLB (Major League Baseball), allowing players to easily transition to the next levels. There is discussion of allowing two other fielders to also share the earpiece.
Along with this new technology, Booster Park underwent several upgrades, including the digital board on the front of our baseball barn, as well as new energy-efficient ceiling tiles, graphics and paint throughout the barn.
The Elks are fortunate to have a community that supports work and growth. We believe in playing Best Game Last (on-field goal) and living Best Day Last (off-field goal). This why is created with a core value mentality of Elk FAST (Family Attitude Skill Team), known as the how. By promoting this model, we create our what (a Centerville Elks baseball player). This Simon Sinek idea allows our players to focus on the work, each day promoting an idea of growth.
I am proud to watch the young men under my care live the Best Day Last/Best Game Last concept. The game of baseball is incredibly hard, with the failure that we may face on a daily basis. Watching young men overcome obstacles and grow to win, on and off the field, is the best part of my job. I am fortunate to have these young men be a part of my family; and I love hearing from them as they continue to grow into adults, after their high school journey is complete.
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