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Kansas City, MO —
The only thing Van Horn High School baseball coach Tim Wilson didn’t enjoy about his team’s appearance at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday afternoon was the final score.
Summit Christian Academy claimed an 18-0 victory over Wilson’s Falcons in the 2012 High School Baseball Classic as the Eagles pushed across six runs in the first inning and seven in the seventh to claim the lopsided victory.
“This wasn’t your typical baseball game, because we wanted every kid who sold a ticket to be able to say they played at Kauffman Stadium,” said Wilson, who used five pitchers, three catchers and all 23 players on his varsity and junior varsity rosters in the game.
The Falcons had to sell 1,000 tickets to a Royals game to earn the chance to play at Kauffman Stadium.
“We got off to a rough start in the first inning,” said Wilson, whose Falcons brought a 2-0 mark into the game, “but just listening to the kids in the dugout, you could tell how excited they were to be here.
“I’m excited, too. This is such a beautiful stadium, and every player on our team can tell their friends and family members that they got to play at Kauffman Stadium.”
The game ended early because of a two-hour time limit, and the moment it ended all the parents sitting in the stands rushed to the top of the dugout to get a team photo as the players positioned themselves in front of the massive center field scoreboard.
“Is there some way to Photoshop the score out of the picture?” asked pitcher/second baseman Tyler Solomon. “We all want this picture, but we don’t want to see that score.”
Solomon was one of the lone Falcon pitchers to enjoy some success as he allowed two hits and no runs in his two-inning stint.
“I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited,” Solomon said. “It was so great to pitch off that mound, but I was afraid I might mess up the dirt on the mound so I was pretty careful.
“And we were told not to step on the grass unless we needed to, so on one relay throw from the outfield I was wondering if I could leave (the dirt part of ) the infield to get on the grass to catch the throw.”
Solomon is a longtime Royals fan and said the build up to Tuesday’s game was nearly unbearable.
The only thing Van Horn High School baseball coach Tim Wilson didn’t enjoy about his team’s appearance at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday afternoon was the final score.
Summit Christian Academy claimed an 18-0 victory over Wilson’s Falcons in the 2012 High School Baseball Classic as the Eagles pushed across six runs in the first inning and seven in the seventh to claim the lopsided victory.
“This wasn’t your typical baseball game, because we wanted every kid who sold a ticket to be able to say they played at Kauffman Stadium,” said Wilson, who used five pitchers, three catchers and all 23 players on his varsity and junior varsity rosters in the game.
The Falcons had to sell 1,000 tickets to a Royals game to earn the chance to play at Kauffman Stadium.
“We got off to a rough start in the first inning,” said Wilson, whose Falcons brought a 2-0 mark into the game, “but just listening to the kids in the dugout, you could tell how excited they were to be here.
“I’m excited, too. This is such a beautiful stadium, and every player on our team can tell their friends and family members that they got to play at Kauffman Stadium.”
The game ended early because of a two-hour time limit, and the moment it ended all the parents sitting in the stands rushed to the top of the dugout to get a team photo as the players positioned themselves in front of the massive center field scoreboard.
“Is there some way to Photoshop the score out of the picture?” asked pitcher/second baseman Tyler Solomon. “We all want this picture, but we don’t want to see that score.”
Solomon was one of the lone Falcon pitchers to enjoy some success as he allowed two hits and no runs in his two-inning stint.
“I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited,” Solomon said. “It was so great to pitch off that mound, but I was afraid I might mess up the dirt on the mound so I was pretty careful.
“And we were told not to step on the grass unless we needed to, so on one relay throw from the outfield I was wondering if I could leave (the dirt part of ) the infield to get on the grass to catch the throw.”
Solomon is a longtime Royals fan and said the build up to Tuesday’s game was nearly unbearable.
“We had to sell 1,000 tickets and everyone on the team sold some tickets so they could play,” Solomon said. “But it seemed like the game was never going to get here. I was dreaming about playing in this game. Even though we lost, I’ll never forget it.”
Neither will pitcher Levi Kelsey, who allowed two earned runs in his two-inning stint.
“Like the other guys on the team, I’ve dreamed about playing here,” Kelsey said. “My family and friends are here and they’re taking photos. Now I can tell everyone I played at Kauffman Stadium.”
And a statement like that makes all the efforts to sell Royals tickets worthwhile.
“Our team was so excited to play at The K,” acting activities director Gary Bressman said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of them, and they plan to soak in every second of it.”
SUTCLIFFE HONORED: Van Horn royalty was in attendance as former Falcon three-sport star and National League Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe joined some of his fellow classmates to catch the action.
He was surprised when he received his Falcon trophy as an original member of the Van Horn Hall of Fame.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” said Sutcliffe, who has been broadcasting spring training baseball games for ESPN. “It’s amazing all the great things that have happened to Van Horn High School the past three years. It’s just great watching the team play at The K.”
FALCONS RECEIVE $5,000 GRANT: The Baseball Tomorrow Fund and Major League Baseball have granted Van Horn High School $5,000 as part of its Field Maintenance Education Program. The money will be used for improvements to Roper Stadium.
