INMAN, S.C – For the first time in 19 seasons, the Chapman Panthers baseball team was back in a position that many affiliated with the program had yearned for: playing for the state title.
Game two of the 3A state championship series between Oceanside and Chapman took place on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, the host Panthers fell to the Landsharks 8-0 and finished as the state runners-up. Following the contest, Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro Jr. was quick to point out that this year’s team was able to accomplish something bigger. “I’m just so proud of this group, the seniors, every kid on this team, and the coaches,” Fusaro said. “For the last 10 years, we’ve been telling (the team) that we’re good enough to do this, that we’re good enough to play in games like this. We’ve had a few teams along the way that believed it. We had a team during the (2020) Covid year that I know believed it, but this group finally broke through and got to play in this game.” “I hope they are the trendsetters for the rest of the guys coming through our program because we’re going to be good for a really long time. These guys proved exactly what we’ve been telling them for years – that they're good enough to play in this game.” Before the start of the 2013 season, Fusaro was promoted to head coach and from that moment, there were visions and values put in place for the program. “For 10 years, we’ve been telling people we’re good enough to do this,” he remarked. “There were some years that people looked at us like we were crazy, but I think we’ve proved with what we do with our youth (program) to what we do here (at the high school) that we’re going to accomplish it." “For me, the wins are great – and we obviously want to win the state championship – but us being able to put out young men who are going to be great husbands, fathers, and community leaders here in town. That means more to me than any win we can have. If we ‘play the standard’, we’re going to win state championships, but we’re going to turn out men that this community is going to be proud of.” Even though the Panthers fell short of winning the championship, there is a significant sense of optimism amongst the program that this is just the beginning of what is to come. “For the last four years, we’ve been right there,” Fusaro recalled. “We got beat by Crescent (in 2019) to go to the state championship and then the Covid year, I thought we really had a shot. The next year (2021), we came back after Covid and were beaten by (eventual Upper State champion) West Oak. We’ve been here – we just needed a team to knock down the door to show that we can do it.” “Every year, we put up the number of games we were away from winning it, so this is the closest we’ve been – two games. We’re going to find a way to make up those two games, whether it’s in the weight room, classroom, in the community, or on the practice field. These guys really liked this experience and they’re going to be willing to work harder for those two games.” With the season’s end, Chapman will see six outstanding seniors graduate – Drew Settle, Walt Waddell, Ricky Montalvo, Ethan Fortenberry, Jonah Rollins, and Landon Solesbee. “I’ve told people that they are the grit and backbone of this team,” stated Fusaro. “When things got tough, these guys were the ones that always rose to the occasion and settled down the rest of the team. I can’t say enough good things about all of them. Drew and Walt were on all those teams we talked about taking (playoff) runs right to the cusp of being in the state championship. They were part of four really good teams that have had a chance to win it. The legacy they leave behind is unbelievable.” “We know what Ricky’s meant to this program the last couple of years and how he’s played for us. (Landon) Solesbee was unbelievable (with) the way he came in, competed, gave us a chance last year, and played this year, giving us a chance. Jonah is one of the most competitive dudes on this team. We were down by eight when he came in (to pitch) and for the last three innings, he held (Oceanside) right there and competed with everything he had. Ethan might be my favorite player that I’ve ever coached – he’s willing to do anything for his teammates and is the protector of us all.” “You can go to every one of those six guys and they’re second to none. Our program’s not going to be the same without them, but I look forward to continued success because of what they’ve shown our community we can do.”
Chris Costa
5/26/2022 05:03:26 am
Classy coach, program and community. Honor to have a chance to compete against them on this stage.
Lynda Pressley
5/26/2022 12:37:03 pm
Our Panthers played with pride and determination. Each one of these players have been taught more then the game of baseball. We are all so very proud!!! Our program develops young boys into upstanding young men. I’m not sure there are a lot of programs out there that can say the same. Teaching our players about respect, determination, adversity, defeat, humility, greatness, kindness, love and how to be humble will carry these young men so much further in life then baseball. Congratulations to all our players and our coaches…. May our seniors go in to their next chapter with pride and determination. Dream big and reach for the stars!!! May the underclass men come back with the hunger and drive to win and the patience to teach and help the new younger players to learn!!! Go State 2023!!! Comments are closed.
|
Our SponsorsArchives
October 2023
Categories |