We have so much talent here, it was definitely one of our goals to get to the state playoffs and this win gets us there.

He was really stinging balls for a while.

This is win or go home. This is playoffs. This is it.

I've been a little low on confidence lately.

He gave me a stack of batting gloves. He said, 'Mike, if you need anything, you let me know.' I would see him other times, and he would tell me he heard I was playing well. He was always real cool. It's a shame he got a bad rap.

I finished my workout, but stayed to watch the game. I sat near him. He looked over and asked me if I was from New York, because of the way I laced my sneakers. So we got talking.