In sports, as in life, a positive mental attitude can make a big difference on how we choose to respond to adversity day in and day out.
Game photos click here.
In sports, as in life, a positive mental attitude can make a big difference on how we choose to respond to adversity day in and day out.
An example of how a positive mental attitude can make a difference can be seen in the success of NDCL’s baseball program this season.
In fact, positivity was what NDCL Head Coach Marc Thibeault believed to be an important factor in NDCL defeating Field, 6-4, in the OHSAA regional semifinal game on June 1.
After going 8-12 last season, the Lions’ first-year head coach implemented a positive philosophy, teaching his athletes to “stay green” as they battled through adverse situations.
This clearly made a difference, as the Lions won the district title and got the opportunity to play Field in the regional semifinal.
Although only in his first year at NDCL, Coach Thibeault is a veteran head coach, having had success as a long-time head baseball coach at John Carroll University.
In this regional semifinal, he attributed his players’ successful performance to the fact that they believed in themselves.
“We have a thing here that if things don’t go our way, we just don’t try to dwell on it,” Thibeault said. “We think of the color green, and all of the kids start yelling out ‘stay green, stay green!’ If they miss their pitch or if there is a bad pitch, or something does not go their way, you just move on and try to win the next pitch.
“Believing was the biggest factor today in overcoming a little bit of adversity, being down by a run and then just executing the second half of the game.”
The game started off with a flurry of offensive action. NDCL scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Phil Davidson singled, and Gianni Spetic followed with a single, to put runners on the corners.
Nick Dietrich got the third straight hit of the inning to drive Davidson home.
After Spetic scored on a wild pitch, Griffon Moskal hit a sacrifice fly to score Dietrich and claim a 3 -0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Field scored four runs for a 4-3 lead.
NDCL made a pitching change, and Sam Hoffman came in to get the last two outs of the third inning.
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the third as Spetic singled and Dietrich walked. After stealing third, Spetic scored on a single by Moskal to tie the game at 4.
NDCL then scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 6-4.
After coming in with one out in the second inning, Hoffman shut the door by throwing 4 and ⅓ innings of scoreless baseball. In addition to not allowing a run in relief, he only allowed three hits and struck out six.
“We got a great relief appearance (from Hoffman) — outstanding, gave us a little bit of life,” Thibeault said. “When there was a pitch that was borderline or didn’t go his way, he didn’t have bad body language, he just kind of stayed in the moment and he did a great job.”
Gianni Spetic came in to close out the game and get the final two outs.
“Gianni came in, and I don’t think he threw a ball; he just filled up the zone,” Thibeault said.
With the victory, NDCL advanced to face Kenston in the regional title game.
