by Stephanie Croston, scroston@sewardindependent.com
The moment – possibly his last pitch in a Malcolm uniform, winning another state title – almost got to Malcolm pitcher Maddox Meyer.
With two outs in the top of the seventh and a 1-0 lead, Meyer had an 0-2 count on the Wakefield batter. Then Meyer hit him.
“I think it got to me,” he said after the game, adding that he had to refocus after hitting the batter. “I was like ‘what are you doing?’”
Meyer gave up a single to the next batter, then induced a ground ball to shortstop Carson Frank to end the game.
As a pitcher, Meyer said he tries to pitch to the batter’s weakness – inside off the middle to end of the bat.
The Malcolm ace pitched all seven innings, striking out 10.
“I wanted to go the distance. I had a lot of pitches left,” he said.
Malcolm faced Wakefield’s top pitcher in the state final Aug. 7. Meyer said they wanted to break the game open but couldn’t get the hits to fall.
“Once we got one to fall, we were in business with Mason (Wisnieski),” he said. “Carson (Frank) was clutch.”
Wisnieski led off the sixth with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Meyer and took third on a sacrifice fly by Luke Schmidt. Then Frank singled to third to drive him in.
Although it was the championship with more at state, Meyer said he approached the game the same way he always does. He stretches and loosens up before the game starts, and every warm-up sequence is the same – fastball, fastball, curve ball, curve ball, then throw down. He takes a deep breath and cleans off the pitching rubber. Then it's time to go.
"I attack hitters right away. Don't get down in the count, because that's when they get good swings," he said.
Carson Frank, who will be a senior at Malcolm High, said he wasn't nervous stepping up to the plate.
"It was a fastball down the middle and I got a good swing," he said. "I was ready for it."
He said he was glad the game was close because that made it more exciting. He said Malcolm knew there wouldn't be a lot of runs scored, since both teams were throwing their top pitcher.
Catcher Luke Schmidt said winning the title, Malcolm’s third in three summers, felt amazing.
“It’s good to go out with a bang with people I’ve known for years,” he said. “We care about each other.”
Being a catcher is a big responsibility, he said. One of his jobs is to help the pitchers if they’re struggling, but the Malcolm staff is very skilled, he said.
Cody Sykes said he knew Wakefield would be tough, but with Meyer pitching, “there’s not much concern when he’s on the mound.”
Sykes was more of a role player on the team this summer, pitching when needed, playing second and being a courtesy runner.
“Get ready at all times, whatever the team needs,” he said. “Pitching is usually pretty fun, but if you’re able to steal a couple bases, that can change the game just as much.”
Owin Little said the championship didn’t come as a surprise to the players.
"At the beginning I new we'd be solid," he said, adding that having players like Hayden Frank and Cody Sykes back in the lineup would help.
After losing a game at an early-season tournament, the season and team turned around, Little said.
“Some people say the word dynasty,” he said. “We just put a lot of time and effort into what we do.”
Little may now be remembered for trying to stretch a double into a triple against Wakefield. He was thrown out at third.
"I made a name for myself trying to get to third," he said, adding that he saw the outfield running after the ball and thought he'd go ahead.
This season was different for Hayden Frank, who has finished a year of college and hadn’t played baseball since last summer’s legion final.
"It was more all my friends play, and I don't like to sit at home," he said.
The start of the summer was tough, he said. He struggled to get his timing back at the plate and in the field.
“There were a lot of thrown helmets,” he said with a grin. "I was able to jump in and do what I had to do. These guys make it so easy."
He said he couldn't use the time away from the game as an excuse because many of the teams Malcolm plays don't have high school teams in the spring, and those players are stepping in just like he did.
Being the "old guy" on the team meant a lot of jokes – like "you just can't get over high school," he said.
By the end of the season, though, he was hitting his stride.
"When you go out on top like this, it makes it totally worth it," he said.
All of the players said this championship, while great, didn’t compare with winning the state championships in the spring.
“But yet it’s still amazing to have the opportunity to do this,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said he will miss hanging out with his friends, whom he described as "amazing people to play with."
Four sets of brothers – the Franks (Carson and Hayden), Meyers (Maddox and Brixon), Wisnieskis (Mason and Justin) and Littles (Owin and Gavin) – had the opportunity to share another championship with each other.
"To share with him, it's probably the most special because it's his last time," Carson said. "Even though he says he doesn't like it much, I know he likes playing baseball. I know he likes winning championships and stuff."
Hayden said, after butting heads in high school, the two have grown closer since he went to college.
"Carson has owned his own name," he said. "He pushes himself to do better."
Hayden said the school championship was still No. 1, but “winning is great.” He hopes to take that winning mentality back to the basketball court at Concordia University this winter.
"Step in, do your part, and winning will take care of itself," he said.
Sykes said he will miss playing with this team, guys he’s played with since junior high.
“We had a lot of wins and championships,” he said.
Meyer said the championships will stay in his memory for awhile, but it’s the bonds forged that will stay forever.
“You can see your friends in a different manner than just seeing them at the lunch table,” he said.
Little said the bonds made with his classmates will last but he will miss everyone.
“We played every sport together,” he said. “Everyone worked hard.”
“This still felt like high school. I will miss it all,” Meyer said.
