A Friday night baseball game between Blair and Douglas County West didn't meet Mother Nature's plans.
As a result, the Bears' second-to-last regular season game was canceled due to rain and wet field conditions. Their scheduled finale was Monday against Lincoln Northwest, while their postseason opener is Thursday in Omaha.
Much like Friday's weather, though, BHS' season hasn't always lived up to what the Bears have hoped for.
“The year has not gone exactly to plan,” coach John Roan said. “However, that's just the sport of baseball.”
Blair entered Monday's game 12-9 overall. It enters its Class B District 4 Tournament at Omaha Gross as the No. 2 seed taking on No. 3 Ralston. The game starts at 6 p.m. — the same time as Friday's district final against the host Cougars.
“We have had some ups and downs this year,” Roan said. “The boys have learned over the course of the year how to play as a team and play for each other.”
And while the Bears aren't hosting their district tourney, the coach believes his “special group” is in position to win it.
“The greatest part of sports is when you get to the postseason, records don't matter anymore. Everyone is 0-0,” Roan said. “We have a talented group of boys that have the drive to make a deep run into the postseason. I am excited about the spot we are in.”
To get to this point in the season, BHS needed each player on the team to step up one time or another, he said. The coach's most valuable players have been his seniors — Lee Chavez-Lara, Kaden Sears, Bo Nielsen, Greyson Kay, Joe Rodriguez, Shea Wendt, Hunter Travis and Brayan Caraveo.
“This group of seniors lost an entire year due to the COVID year,” Roan said. “It is very special to see them in a position to compete in something they lost the opportunity for their freshman year.”
