|
|
|
Lake TWP, Ohio —
You can never keep a competitor like Lake baseball Mike Parker down and out.
A former three-sport athlete for the Woodridge High School Bulldogs, Parker has witnessed it all, especially as a special teams coach for the Lake Blue Streaks football team under the lead of long-tenured head coach Jeff Durbin.
There is no disputing the fact that Parker is a bulldog in the dugout too.
Not even a brutal 8-7, nine-inning loss to bitter Federal League competitor North Canton Hoover in a Div. I district semifinal was enough to place a tarp over what was a successful season for a Blue Streaks team that only had four seniors.
Most baseball managers would have found it difficult to deal with such a setback like the one Lake endured. Parker, a father of four daughters and therefore well-versed in patience in the face of challenges, is not like other managers.
That fighting spirit was also evident in the way his team responded to adversity throughout the year.
“There was no quit in our team at all this year and they are a team that fought to the very end in every game this season,” he said. “I am very proud of them.”
This year's Lake team definitely made strides on the year. After a 6-6 start, they ended the year winners of 10 of their final 14 games. That included an 8-2 win over defending district champion Green in a second-round contest.
The Blue Streaks were able to maintain good team depth, which they have possessed during Parker's tenure.
Much of that has been the ability to interchange players and bring in others for experience, which has been a major facet as to why Lake has appeared in the district tournament in two of the last three seasons and looks to return in the near future.
A little known fact was Lake did not use a designated hitter this year. They were a sound team from top to bottom.
“We had guys in key roles this season. We're going to have a solid team in key positions next year,” Parker said.
In this year's district tournament that featured all Federal League teams, it was a bracket filled with teams who had the power to take a ball out of the park.
Lake, Jackson, North Canton Hoover, and eventual district champion Perry were teams that were able to commit serious damage with their offense.
You can never keep a competitor like Lake baseball Mike Parker down and out.
A former three-sport athlete for the Woodridge High School Bulldogs, Parker has witnessed it all, especially as a special teams coach for the Lake Blue Streaks football team under the lead of long-tenured head coach Jeff Durbin.
There is no disputing the fact that Parker is a bulldog in the dugout too.
Not even a brutal 8-7, nine-inning loss to bitter Federal League competitor North Canton Hoover in a Div. I district semifinal was enough to place a tarp over what was a successful season for a Blue Streaks team that only had four seniors.
Most baseball managers would have found it difficult to deal with such a setback like the one Lake endured. Parker, a father of four daughters and therefore well-versed in patience in the face of challenges, is not like other managers.
That fighting spirit was also evident in the way his team responded to adversity throughout the year.
“There was no quit in our team at all this year and they are a team that fought to the very end in every game this season,” he said. “I am very proud of them.”
This year's Lake team definitely made strides on the year. After a 6-6 start, they ended the year winners of 10 of their final 14 games. That included an 8-2 win over defending district champion Green in a second-round contest.
The Blue Streaks were able to maintain good team depth, which they have possessed during Parker's tenure.
Much of that has been the ability to interchange players and bring in others for experience, which has been a major facet as to why Lake has appeared in the district tournament in two of the last three seasons and looks to return in the near future.
A little known fact was Lake did not use a designated hitter this year. They were a sound team from top to bottom.
“We had guys in key roles this season. We're going to have a solid team in key positions next year,” Parker said.
In this year's district tournament that featured all Federal League teams, it was a bracket filled with teams who had the power to take a ball out of the park.
Lake, Jackson, North Canton Hoover, and eventual district champion Perry were teams that were able to commit serious damage with their offense.
However, there were newer bat restrictions. Teams used BBCOR bats this year. BBCOR is a standard for the speed for which balls can come off a bat. It did not make a difference to Lake and from a statistical standpoint, Parker stated his case and it was a factual one.
“We still averaged 6.7 runs a game and hit over .305 this year. We scored more runs last year than from the past and that's good,” he said.
For their success in the form of 16 wins over 26 games, several Lake players attained numerous accolades. Justin Wagler and Wes Kemp were selected to play in the North-South All-Star game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on June 26th. Before that, Wagler, Kemp, Jarrod Daugherty and Eric Rolenz were selected to play in the Hank Miller All-Star game at Walsh University that took place in May.
Wagler will play next season at College World Series-bound Kent State University. Kemp will be reaquainted with former Lake player Kyle Osco at the University of Mount Union and Daugherty will play at Bethany College.
Parker knows his seniors left their mark on the season. He knows what to expect for a team that will boast six seniors next season and seven juniors. The future for the next two years of Lake baseball look bright.
“I expect us to field a solid baseball team next season,” Parker said.
With Parker at the helm, you can never keep Lake baseball down and out.
