Whitley Co. Board of Education recognizes baseball team’s epic state tournament run

The 2021 Whitley County High School Baseball Team did something that no other team in Whitley County history has ever done.

It won the region and the first round of the state baseball tournament advancing as far as the Elite Eight where their dream season ended.

On Thursday night, the Whitley County Board of Education recognized the team and its coaches for their historic accomplishment.

“Without a doubt one of the proudest moments of our high school in several years has been what this group of young men did out on the baseball field, and the way they represented our community, our high school,” said Superintendent John Siler. “They set a record with 31 wins in the season. They did it with class. They were highly competitive. Every game the kids fought to the last out.”

During the meeting, players and coaches were presented with a framed copy of the June 16 News Journal sports page promoting the teams trip to the Elite Eight game in Lexington, which included a group picture of the team, a preview story on the upcoming game, a copy of the state tournament bracket, and an at a glance box with information about the upcoming game, such as opponent, time, ticket status, and how to watch or listen to the game if you couldn’t be there in person.

Siler added that the Elite Eight finish meant that the WCHS Baseball Team was one of the top eight schools in the state out of more than 200 schools that play baseball.

“That is quite the accomplishment for these young men. I also want to say a big thank you to our coaching staff. It is unbelievable the amount of hours and energy that they pour into this group of young men during the baseball season and before baseball season. It is never ending,” Siler said.

“There is not a group of men – I am talking about the coach staff – that I would want my son – and he is part of this – to be around more than these guys the way they influence them and teach them hard work and that hard work and dedication pays off.”

Siler added that he has been out at the school at 7 a.m. before and seen coaches raking the field to dry it out and get it ready not for a game, but so that the team could get in a day of practice.