Baseball does Imperial proud

Legion team does Imperial proud in post-season play.

Baseball/softball games and summer go hand in hand. It’s been a busy season again here in Imperial, despite the fact fewer teams were fielded from our community this year.
    It’s disheartening to see what’s been known as America’s favorite pastime put on the back burner in favor of a preoccupation with technology and, in a growing trend, summer camps for other out of season sports.
    However, Imperial’s Junior and Senior Legion baseball teams are making noise. What a great showing by the juniors, who qualified for the state tournament last week, possibly for the first time from this community. State Legion records are sketchy. We’ve done some limited research here, and haven’t found a record of any past state berths by a junior team.
    Now the seniors enter area (district) tournament play this week in Gordon. Here’s hoping the momentum brought to Imperial’s baseball program continues to prop up the seniors in their tournament showing, hoping for another state qualification for Imperial.
    Sports, in all realms, are important in building not only a love of the sport itself, but characteristics like teamwork, patience and responsibility. Those are characteristics that seem to be losing their place in some circles, but ones that are sought after in the real world of employment and family life where these young athletes will live some day.
    Our junior Legion team evidently is exhibiting those characteristics already.
    After their loss Monday night, which eliminated them from the state tournament in Battle Creek, they showed some unusual sportsmanship, as noted by the tournament director. Check the story in this week’s sports section to read what Bryan Daum wrote about Imperial’s team.
    Anyone who reads that should swell with pride. It not only reflects well on the community we call home, but also shows us they are being coached correctly both on the field and at home. Thanks, Coaches Bruce Peterson and Carl Zuege, and all of the parents and other baseball/softball supporters here, for your influence.
    Most of all, we should hold up Imperial’s athletes who showed who they are on and off the field.

 

The Imperial Republican

308-882-4453 (Phone)

622 Broadway St

PO Box 727

Imperial, NE 69033