Written by Jack Thomas
Opening Day is for frontrunners. It’s easy to ride the wave of excitement for something new. In a 50-game season, they all matter. Opening Day matters, but so does game 33 on a Tuesday in late March.There was some good in this weekend, and there were some things that we needed to clean up.
I’m not guaranteeing that we will have any success this year. I will, however, guarantee that at the end of this season, we will feel good about it because of how we go about our daily process. Consequently, because of how we go about our daily process, we have a chance to have a lot of success. When we do, don’t come to us. This group is merely a biproduct of a system set in place by Head Coach McGaha and Assistant Head Coach Schatzley. Go to former Bisons Matt Calhoun, Trent Woodridge, Paul Anzalone, Noah Chandler, Harrison Hunter, Davis Richardson or Zach Beasley. Those are the guys that laid the foundation and knocked down the door.
If we are able to break through and walk through that door, it is a direct result of the teams that came before us. We’ve been working at this thing for a long time long before it was all over Twitter, when the only people who saw us were the folks driving by at 5:30 in the morning.
All success aside, the guys listed above are the ones who deserve the credit. They have created an environment that changes lives over on the far side of Gin Creek.The culture we have develops men who are accountable, who lead courageously — men who this university should be proud of.
To tell you the truth, this entire article was written prior to Opening Day because it’s not about the result, it’s about the process. Regardless of how the series turned out, this article was going to be published as written.
Don’t be a frontrunner. Keep showing up, keep doing things that people say you can’t do, and we’ll be right there with you. – Jack Thomas, senior outfielder
To anyone who chose to read this article (and had the patience to finish it), you’re a part of the point I’m trying to make. You don’t see frontrunners at the finish line. You see the ones who commit to the process and have the discipline to execute.
Every. Single. Day.
In baseball, in school, in whatever your passion may be, remember the words of Galatians 6:9,“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we don’t give up.” So, don’t be a frontrunner. Keep showing up and keep doing things people say you can’t do, and we’ll be right there with you. Paraphrasing the words of Bill Belichick, “We’re on to Truman State.”
We would also like to thank all the fans that came out last weekend, especially those of you that hung out on the right-field deck. It’s hard to beat the smell of burgers on the grill, the sound of Turnpike Troubadours on the speakers and the feeling of good people all around. Jerry Moore Field is a great place to spend a Saturday, and you guys make it so fun. We’ll see you soon.
