Pair of A's head off to college after big summer

Some goodbyes are harder than others.
Just ask the members of the Blue Springs Rod’s Sports Athletics, who just wrapped one of the most successful seasons in the history of the storied American Legion baseball program.
The 53-8 A’s went down fighting, losing 11-8 to Omaha Post 374 Monday in what proved to be the championship game of the American Legion Baseball Central Plains-Region 6 Tournament.
“That was a tough one,” said A’s pitcher Kyle Barbeck, who hit a two-run homer in the game. “No one expected us to reach the state tournament, let alone make it all the way to the regional tournament.
“I’m proud of my teammates and proud of this team. But now that the tournament is over, comes the tough part.”
Barbeck was talking on his cell phone, from an airport in Fargo, N.D., getting ready for the flight back to Kansas City.
“It was tough after the loss on Monday, but now, looking at the guys (as they prepared to board their flight), it just kind of hits me that I’m never going to play with Bret (Schwartz) or Matt (McHenry) or (Matt) July again. This is it – and I don’t even want to think about it.
“We’ve been teammates the past four years at Blue Springs High School, and we all went on and played with the A’s. We’ve had some great times, and none of us want it to end.
“But even if we’d have won the regional tournament, that would have been it for me. I got a call from the equipment manager at Ole Miss while we were in North Dakota wanting to know my sizes so they could make my uniform. If we had gone on to the World Series I couldn’t have gone because my folks and I have a nine-hour car trip (to Oxford, Miss.) on Friday.”
Schwartz didn’t have quite that long of a drive, but it happened early this morning.
“Let’s see,” Schwartz said, chuckling. “I expect to get home about midnight. I’m packed, and when I get home I’m going to kiss my sister goodbye and head for Warrensburg (the University of Central Missouri) where I have a 9 a.m. freshman seminar.
“My coaches knew we were in North Dakota this weekend, but they expect me to be on the baseball field Wednesday at 2 p.m. for practice. But that’s all right – its baseball. And I love it.”
Barbeck and Schwartz have been in love with baseball for as long as they can remember.
“I didn’t grow up following the A’s because I lived in Independence until my freshman year,” Barbeck said. “But I always loved baseball. And now, I’m going to get the chance to see how I do at the next level.”
Schwartz and his father had an interesting conversation as the A’s brilliant shortstop packed for both the regional tourney and college.
“My dad asked me if I remembered going to see the A’s play when I was a kid,” Schwartz said. “I remember wearing mittens as batting gloves and swinging this plastic caveman bat – it was shaped like something you would see in a dinosaur movie.
“I always wore those ‘mitten/batting gloves’ and swung that bat. I remember watching (former A’s players turned coaches) Andy Mayfield and Thad Peeler and I dreamed that I would play for the A’s someday.
“Now, it’s all over. It was so much fun playing with a guy like Kyle, who’s going to be a great Division I pitcher, and (Matt) McHenry and (Matt) July. We have a lot of great memories and this season has to rank as one of the best.”