Dear Dale Pirate Baseball Team! We are Proud of You!
You know, the great Football Coach Nick Saban was reflecting during his tenure of coaching at Alabama in an interview about his retirement announcement earlier this year. He told the reporter all the fun moments and all the crazy moments of how NIL, transfer portal, and other factors have emerged in sports. One thing Saban said spoke to me saying, “Everyone loves to win. But you learn more when you lose.”
I know we all in the Dale community were rooting for our Dale Boys Baseball Team to go all the way this spring. We came just short in the state semifinals. Boys, we know you are taking this loss hard, but please know we are still so proud of you, your hard work, and your team. You represented Dale in such great ways and still do.
Now, one of the greatest life lessons we can learn from sports is not only how to handle success, but also how to handle defeat. Think about the fun games you have had, the competitive moments in practice. The close games, the blowout games, the fun Instagram reels, and yes, even the calls they may not have made sense. Ask yourself these questions, “What did I learn from this experience?” “How did I grow as a baseball player?” “How can I build on this?”
Now, a pirate is one who constantly seeks buried treasure. Hidden away in your season are many life lessons you find valuable to your life. The hard work on the field, the dedication, the team building skills, and the memories all contribute to growing you as a person. Don’t let the hidden treasure of this season be buried by a loss, but let it mold you into the leader you are meant to be.
Please know you have so many people supporting you and cheering you on. We are supporting you, your coaches, and your success as a whole. It won’t be too long before we’ll be back at the Dale baseball field rooting you guys on once again. Although we won’t be hoisting up the state title trophy this spring, we might be hoisting up something even more valuable. And that is what you learned from the process and the great memories you made on the field.
My heart goes out to the seniors who hung up their baseball jerseys at Dale. They have had quite the run and again, we are so proud of you guys. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like the sweet temporary joy of victory, but if winning is an instant report card, then defeat is a powerful teacher.
One of my favorite country singers is Randy Travis. In his song, “Three Wooden Crosses”, he ends the chorus line with a famous phrase: “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, but what you leave behind you when you go.”
For those seniors of the Dale baseball team, we are so thankful for the legacy you have left. And for the rest of the team, ask yourself, “What will you leave behind on the ball field of Dale high school?”
As a Dale Pirate, don’t let the hidden treasure of the year stayed buried into the season, but instead take what you’ve learned from your experience and apply it to your life. I’ve never met Nick Saban, but you can tell he has kept a standard of excellence. I believe he has done this because he has learned how to win and how to grow from a loss. Dale Pirate Baseball, we can’t wait to see where you grow next! Go Pirates!
Find the Hidden Treasure,
B-Baum
Brandon Baumgarten 