In the week leading up to spring break, John Carroll’s baseball team headed to Las Vegas to compete in a tournament lasting from April 2 to April 7.
The host of this event was Bishop Gorman High School, and each team had to apply to potentially earn a spot. Every team who attended this year was a state finalist or semi-finalist from each respective state.
JC brought 27 players to compete, and prior to the tournament, they focused on what needed to be done to reach their goals.
Fundraising also was a major piece of making this trip possible through camps, restaurant nights, and donations.
The team’s daily itinerary included “team breakfast, workout, study hall, team lunch, game, team dinner, lights out and repeat,” said Coach Darrion Siler.
Outside of playing or practicing, the team did take short trips, including a visit to see the Hoover Dam.
In the games themselves, the JC team did well with a combination of wins and losses. The boys competed against some of the top teams across the country. “We outhit the number three team in the nation and almost beat them in a very close game,” Coach Siler said.
Three of the most memorable experiences for Coach Siler included “winning our first game there against a tough Bishop O’Dowd team from California, the Bishop Gorman game where we almost pulled off the win by having the go-ahead run at the plate in the last inning, and the Hoover Dam trip.”
With each experience, the team was able to take advantage of this trip to mimic the collegiate experience of being a student-athlete and balancing an academic workload as well as a sports schedule.
This mentorship and opportunity went beyond the sport itself.
“Teaching them this time management and personal responsibility is part of our mission as coaches for the program, so I think the boys did a great job at taking that ownership,” Coach Siler said.
Senior Griffin Shirk said, “From this experience, I gained a sense of independence and a hint of what college will be like. The biggest thing gained through the trip was the team bonding and how much closer we have all gotten to each other on and off the field.”
“Vegas was beautiful, and the field we played on was amazing,” said junior Ben Shutt, “My favorite part of the trip was the team chemistry that we built while staying in the hotel with each other.”