Clay Horning
If there’s a public address announcer at Edmond Memorial today and Norman North’s record is announced before it begins play at the American Legion AAA state tournament, some folks might figure the Timberwolves for a state-tourney farce.
Wrong.
“They’ve been playing a majors schedule,” North high school baseball coach Brian Aylor said.
Indeed they have.
Under the direction of coach Brad Dolejsi, Aylor’s springtime assistant, a close approximation of next spring’s North varsity squad has played a summer schedule against American Legion Majors programs, mostly comprised of high school graduates.
The squad’s played 32 games, winning 10, losing 20 and tying two. However, finally in position to play other squads like itself, North sees no reason why it can’t win a state championship.
The North AAA team opted out of the Pure Prairie League’s Seniors division just to meet tougher competition.
“We want these guys to play for the top prize whenever they play,” Dolejsi said. “And if that means playing for the summer state title, then that’s what it means.”
The T-Wolves meet Enid High at 2:30 p.m. today in the opening round of the tourney. Also on North’s side of the draw are Edmond Santa Fe and Pryor. On the other side resides the Enid Area team, Edmond Memorial, Vinita and Claremore.
North is still smarting from its failure to reach the Class 6A state tournament during the high school season as well as what seemed like a season-long run of bad luck that led to countless one-run defeats.
With that as a backdrop, the state tourney will serve North’s program in several ways
There’s the redemption angle for a young team that fell in high school regional play, also the any-championship-is-worth-winning angle as well as the this-could-set-the-stage-for-next-spring dynamic.
There may even be a fourth way to look at it.
Russell’s return
Cale Russell figures he played 100 baseball games in each of the calendar years of 2006, 2007 and 2008. Today, he’ll play his first game in months and only his fourth of the year.
The other three came in the spring, before he tore the meniscus cartilage in his knee during the Timberwolves’ Florida pilgrimage last February. Surgery and rehab have kept him out of action until today, when he figures to hit in the three-hole.
“I’m excited to play again,” Russell said. “It’s really the longest break I’ve ever taken.”
He’s been throwing on the side and hitting in the cage for a month and throwing off the mound for two weeks. Ryan Allen will get today’s start on the hill, but Russell will be available. Instantly, he should become the T-Wolves’ most feared slugger.
“Every time I go up,” Russell said, “I expect to play my best.”
Russell isn’t new to the squad, only to the lineup.
Despite not being cleared to play until now, he’s been in the dugout all season, watching the T-Wolves struggle against overmatched competition. He’s in the same boat as everybody else believing a state title to be at hand.
Time to play
“It’s redemption and just proving the kind of team we really have,” said Alec Stand, who’s hitting about .400 from the leadoff spot, while stealing more than a base each game.
Stand, shortstop Corey Stringer (.350, 30 RBIs), catcher Caleb Simpson (.310, 2 home runs), along with the back-in-the-lineup Russell form the nucleus of a team playing for a state title beginning today and hoping to play for one next May.
Already the T-Wolves have won some vindication.
Last week’s zone tournament was played at Putnam City North, the same host as the regional attended by the T-Wolves last May. Though they couldn’t get past the Panthers then, North eliminated them this time around.
Still, the T-Wolves have played 32 games and won only 10. Could a state-tourney title really be in the cards?
“Each day we played the older teams, I think we were getting better,” Stand said. “Anything less than (a state title) wouldn’t be satisfactory.”
Said Russell, “It would make everything feel better.”
