Souderton’s PIAA 6A state championship baseball team was honored in Harrisburg on Tuesday morning and then prior to the Trenton Thunder game later in the day. (Photos provided courtesy of Souderton baseball)
Mike Childs called it ‘Celebration Tuesday.’
It would be hard to find a more appropriate name for a day that began with a trip to Harrisburg where the PIAA 6A champion Souderton baseball squad was recognized and concluded Tuesday night at Arm & Hammer Stadium in Trenton where the state champions were honored prior to the Trenton Thunder-Reading Phillies game.
And there was more.
Fox 29’s Good Day Philadelphia was at the high school to capture the sendoff to Harrisburg live. Coach Mike Childs as well as seniors Dan Pineda and Jordan Morales were interviewed. (https://www.fox29.com/video/577997)
“There’s a lot to it, and at points, yes, it can be overwhelming, but at the same time, it’s sweet for something that we did first time in school history, winning a state championship,” senior Andrew Curran said.
Upon the team’s arrival in Harrisburg, they were greeted by PA Representative Steve Malagari, PA Senator Maria Collett, PA Senator Bob Mensch and PA Representative Marci Toepel. The squad took a brief tour of the capitol, and then Representative Malagari presented the team – each player wearing their medal - on the House floor, recapping some of the Indians’ state run highlights.
“That was really cool,” said Luke Taylor, who notched the win on the mound in the state title game. “I had never been there before, and it was really neat to see the building.
“When we were on the House floor, they mentioned my name and talked about how I pitched, which was super cool that they did that in front of everybody. It was a great experience.”
“That was an experience that was really good,” Curran said. “They went over the highlights of the state championship game.
“My highlight was throwing the scoreless seventh for the save in the state championship.”
The team was treated to a pizza party lunch before heading home.
“It was another fun trip,” Childs said. “As soon as we got back, Hogan Despain said, ‘Coach, I have the two ring samples.’ To add to the excitement, they chose the ring they wanted.”
The magnitude of what the Indians accomplished with their 6-3 come-from-behind win over Central Bucks South in the state title game began to sink in when their bus arrived home from Penn State.
“When we got back in town, we had fire truck and police escorts,” Curran said. “Basically, we went around the town of Souderton, looped around and came back to the high school.
“People in the community were outside, and they were cheering for us. That was pretty amazing.”
“That was super cool,” Taylor said. “There were tons of trucks, and we drove around town, and people were outside cheering for us. I wasn’t expecting that at all. Instead of going back to school, we took a lap around town. It was pretty cool.”
The players are finding themselves celebrities of sorts in their home town.
“It’s been surreal, it’s been awesome,” Taylor said. “When we got home, everyone was congratulating us. I’d go places, and people would ask, ‘Were you on the baseball team?’ because I’d be wearing a sweatshirt that said Souderton baseball. It’s just been really cool how everybody is recognizing us, and i’s pretty awesome everything we get to do.
"I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. In the beginning of the year, I did not expect anything like this. To go on a run like we did, it’s crazy. It’s just awesome.”
“We get congratulated by just random people in the community, saying ‘Good job’ and things like that,” Curran said. “It’s still like, ‘We just did this.’”
The majority of the team – including Taylor and Curran - is still together as the Souderton American Legion squad that is 4-0 early in the season.
“It’s awesome that we can stick together for one more ride before everyone goes off the college,” Taylor said.
“Our goal in legion is to win it all,” said Curran, who will continue his baseball career at Barton College in Wilson, N.C.
Taylor – uncertain of his major - was planning to enroll at Montgomery County Community College to take required courses, but that could change.
“I recently got a call from a D-II school to play baseball, so I’m definitely going to consider that,” he said.
In the meantime, there’s still plenty of baseball left this summer for many of the players who are still together on their American Legion squad.
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