To the editor:
In ESPN preseason polls the Kansas City Royals were picked by only one of their writers to make it to the World Series and the Giants were not picked by any of the dozen or more writers. If a poll was taken by writers in Maine prior to the 2014 high school baseball season I suspect the Caribou Vikings would not be on anyone’s list of potential state baseball finalists.
As I followed the post-season play of the Royals I see parallels between them and the Vikings baseball team. Both teams peaked at the perfect time. Momentum in baseball is important to a team’s success.
The Vikings’ season was marked by a rocky start when their ace pitcher Matt Curry suffered his only loss of the season at Old Town. His two out, 0-2 count single to left in the eighth inning versus Old Town in the Eastern Maine final changed all that. This was the only appearance of any Caribou baseball Vikings in any game beyond the quarter finals, ever!
The Vikings went down fighting in a 1-0 state final loss versus Greely of Cumberland, ending their dream season.
The Royals’ record was 48 and 46 at the All-star break yet they finished the season with a 41 and 27 record during the second half to win a wild card berth. Until last Tuesday’s loss they had won eight playoff games in a row.
My mind goes back to the “Cardiac Kids” Caribou High School basketball team of 1969 who made it into the state finals after providing nail-biting action in the games leading up to that final. This year’s Viking baseball team was on a parallel track winning three of their four playoff games by one run.
I love this time of the year with playoffs and the World Series. As I watch I want to once again congratulate Coach Jim Thibodeau, his assistant coach Dan Umphrey, the seven seniors on the team, and the underclassmen on the squad who did what many said was an improbable if not impossible task, making it to the state finals.
Thanks Vikings and Go Royals!
Tom Hale
Westmanland
