In a world where professional athletes are treated more like commodities than people, and, vice versa, a professional athletes allegiance to a team is fleeting, its refreshing to focus on a local ball team where the pride is still homespun.
The Iola Indians, comprised of high school athletes primarily from Iola and Humboldt, won the state title Saturday in the AA division in American League baseball action. Wednesday night the Indians face a AAA team from Salina at the Humboldt Sports Complex. The action begins at 5 p.m. The best two of three games decides who will move on to national competition in New Orleans. If Wednesdays action is a tie, the deciding game will be played Thursday.
Many of the local players have played one sport or another together since they were kids. For the graduating seniors, this could be their last action as teammates. The seasons end marks the beginning of new chapters as they split off for college, the armed forces, or jobs. The goodbyes will be heavy.
The Salina Falcons, 33-2, are favored to win because the team is fielded from a much larger population base, accustomed to greater competition.
The Indians, though, will have the hometown advantage. If youve never been to a ball game all summer, Wednesday night is the time to start.
JUST THREE years ago the Kansas City Royals won the World Series. Today, only three members of that team remain. One by one, the players either used their options as free agents to go elsewhere, or were traded by management, splintering that golden team.
The same thing happens at the collegiate level, although incentives supposedly dont exist.
Thats the world of sports these days.
No doubt, professional athletes look back longingly at their youths when a game of ball was simply that. A game, not a job. No contracts. No attorneys or press agents. No arbitration. No marathon seasons.
Which is also why Wednesdays game will be such a treat.
Itll be our boys giving it their all, for the sake of the game.
And whatever the outcome, everything will be just fine.
Susan Lynn
