Resilient Trojans fall in quarterfinals, set new precedent

After winning their first district baseball championship since 1997, the Park Hill Trojans took it a step further last Tuesday as they advanced to the state quarterfinals with a win against Truman 5-3 to record the school’s first ever playoff victory. After giving up three runs early, pitcher Daniel Jessen held Truman steady the rest of the way allowing Park Hill’s offense to take over including two key RBI’s from James Vega.

The win led them to a quarterfinal matchup with Rockhurst (21-3) on Friday. Blue skies and eighty degree temperatures added to a near-perfect baseball atmosphere for an unprecedented crowd turn-out lined around the field. Coach Greg Reynolds talked about the mindset the Trojans looked to take against an intimidating Rockhurst team.

“They’re exactly like we are. They make errors. They put the ball in play. In baseball it doesn’t matter how big or what the name of your school is,” Reynolds said. “It just matters if you have nine or ten quality guys to put on the field each day.”

With Park Hill down 2-0 in the second, Adam Vanderpool hit a solo home run to make it 2-1. A two run homer in the fourth made the score 4-1 in favor of Rockhurst before Vega evened it up with a three run homer in the fifth. The Trojans kept finding themselves battling back, something they’ve held to their advantage all season. Rockhurst gained critical runs in the sixth and seventh to put Park Hill down 6-4 going into the last inning.

Leading off with the top of the lineup, Trojan fans hoped for another comeback. Nick Hughes walked to start the inning followed by two quick outs. Vanderpool ripped a double to right-center field scoring Hughes from first to make the score 6-5. With runners on first and second and two outs, Alex Otto’s shot to centerfield didn’t quite have enough power as the ball was caught for the final out of the game.

“We’ve come back a lot of different ways with a lot of different guys this year. The last couple games we’ve had guys hit home runs late in games that haven’t hit one all season. You can’t keep doing that, eventually you’ll get stung,” Reynolds said.

The mood was somber as 11 seniors ended their high school careers, but there were little words needed between Reynolds and his team in their post-game gathering to express their accomplishments.

“These guys know how to play the game. There’s nothing I can tell them. I’m proud of them and I told them that. These seniors took us to a spot we never thought we’d be and they did it because they listened, followed directions and showed discipline,” Reynolds said.

The slate is nearly wiped clean next year as the Trojans return five lettermen, two of them starters, from this year’s team.

“I hope it’s a carry over. Baseball is like a lot of sports where it’s always a learning experience with new players coming in. Our job as a program is to not have a letdown,” Reynolds said.