I’m writing this article under the assumption that you have read the lead-in post …one trophy, one team. For those of you who haven’t – that piece focuses on the team as a whole unit. The importance of this team’s ‘one team’ mentality cannot be overstated – it is how they became Champions… But they are also individuals who I’ve come to know very well and I’d like for you to know them, too. So… here is my follow up piece – be kind it has been a labor of love….
On June 16, 2022 at Medlar Field in State College, PA the Everett warrior baseball team made history with their State Championship win. Those young men became the first baseball team in the history of Bedford County to be State Champions and in that I happen to be lucky enough to claim one of the players as my own, I thought I’d give you a little look beyond the stats because, while the players’ impressive stats surely helped, this win was much more than hits, runs and strikeouts.
For the most part, these boys (I’ve known them for the better part of their lives, they will always be ‘boys’ in my eyes) have played baseball together for 12 years. We parents, being typical sports parents, talked endlessly in those days about “…when these boys are juniors and seniors in high school, they will be something. Anything short of state champs will be a disappointment.”
Ok… it was me… I am “we parents”. But in my defense, here we are, at the end of their senior year (six of the starters were seniors, anyway) and they’ve brought my bold, even arrogant, prediction to fruition.
Make no mistake about it – this entire season was a WHOLE TEAM effort but I want you to know a little about each player; I want you to know the stuff that these boys and their parents are too humble to say (now… if you track down a grandparent or aunt – they’ll tell you all of it… grandparents and aunts somehow get a free pass when it comes to this kind of stuff). I’ll even brag up my own player a bit even though it goes against everything we’ve ever taught our kids.
I need to start with the pitchers – we have a few but in my less than humble, perhaps even a touch-biased, opinion we have the greatest 1-2 punch in the state (the hardest part is deciding which is 1 and which is 2). We have a righty (RHP) and a lefty (LHP), and they couldn’t be more different. The righty is smooth, efficient, and slowly saunters off the field each inning after his job is done. The lefty dares the ball to miss the strike zone, has 1 complete game to his name, and is usually the first kid back to the dugout after the last out. And they’ve been best friends since their first little league practice. There is zero competition between them; they are secure in their respective roles, and they support each other unapologetically.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the contribution of the other 8 guys on the field when discussing the success of our pitchers. This team could compile one helluva highlight reel complete with diving catches, physics-defying throws, and simple high baseball IQ plays. A baseball pitcher doesn’t win games without help and this team was no exception. The only dark smudge on this pitching season is the glaring omission of our righty on the list of 1st Team ICC-9 All-Stars. It was so egregious a slight that it completely invalidated the entire list for this sports fan. But… this is a feel-good story, so I’ll leave it at that and get back to the team…
When I think of this team, I do so from a defensive standpoint – where they play in the field – and that is how I will present them to you. Of course, the defense changes based on who’s on the mound, so I will use the defense that is most relaxing for me… the one where my kid is not pitching (moms of pitchers – you know). I’m not using any references for stats, what I write here is from memory so forgive me the few errors I know I’ll make…
Trenten Mellott (RHP, SS, bats 1, senior) Trenten is that right-handed pitcher I mentioned earlier. He has a number of complete games which speaks to his efficiency and I’m pretty sure his rare losses were the result of unearned runs. He has a curve ball that’ll make a batter cry. His ERA (a complex calculation that boils down to the number of runs given up, without error, per game) is the best on the team – which is impressive as a stand-alone stat – but when you include the fact he’s pitched the most innings… well – the lowest percentage with the most attempts – the kid is good. He’s the leadoff batter in the lineup and he was made for that spot. He gets on base often and he’s quick. In the Elite Eight battle he tied the game with a sacrifice fly ball to deep right field in the seventh inning to ensure that Everett wasn’t going home just yet. That long fly ball was followed a few batters later by a walk-off grand slam, but the sac fly was crucial to the game, and I hope it doesn’t get lost in the retelling.
I’ve spent a lot of time recently thinking back on Cal’s baseball career and I can honestly say I don’t have a single memory of that life that doesn’t include Trenten. Whether it was the two of them hitting rocks in Trenten’s driveway at the age of 7 or getting their varsity letters their freshman year or watching them drive off for batting practice at the Winning Edge facility; I can’t think of a time that Trenten wasn’t woven into the fabric of Cal’s baseball life. There’s a picture of Cal’s first-ever homerun – Trenten was on base so both boys are in the frame. Cal’s face is sheer exultation and somehow – Trenten’s smile is bigger. When one hits a homerun – the other is the first to welcome him at the plate. They talk each other through rough stretches on the mound and they sought out each other after each playoff win this season, the pictures of them hugging, crying… celebrating… are images I’ll treasure forever. There simply is no ‘Cal playing baseball’ for me… it’s ‘Cal and Trenten playing baseball’.
Ian Klahre (C, sophomore) Generally speaking, over the past two seasons Ian has been a good catcher; specifically speaking, over this playoff run Ian was a GREAT catcher. Our pitchers are so different in style, what they throw, how they throw, and Ian moves between them seamlessly. He calls the entire game (meaning he tells our pitchers what pitch to throw), the pitchers shake him off here and there, but for the most part Ian calls a brilliant game. I don’t have the stats to back this up but I’m pretty sure he did not have a passed ball in 6 playoff games and that includes wild pitches; he blocked everything that came his way. He was a brick wall at the plate while laying down a pretty nifty tag to help send us to the Championship game. In the Championship game he threw out a runner attempting to steal second base – seems pretty routine, right? Well… 4(?) pitches earlier he took a foul ball to the forearm of his throwing hand… maybe not quite so routine, after all…
At some point in the season, the coach decided to have another player hit for Ian. The coach, by the way, is Ian’s dad. I can’t imagine the conversation they had but if anybody every questions the Klahre’s dedication to Everett Warrior Baseball – think back on that move and how much easier it would have been (for both of them) to keep Ian in the lineup. Watching that father/son duo celebrate the Championship win was worth the price of admission. They deserved that celebration. Incidentally, Ian is a bit of a renaissance man – he’s a catcher, a quarterback, a drummer in the school bands and is a fixture in the school plays… the kid can do it all.
Calvin Iseminger (LHP, 1B, bats 4, senior) my kid… I’m so much more relaxed when he’s playing first – although that makes him part of most plays, so the tension free periods are short-lived. As a pitcher this kid hasn’t lost a game in 2 seasons… got some no-decisions, but didn’t have a loss (don’t forget the guys around him do some work for that…). His pick-off move is the stuff of legend. Last season he picked off 12 runners (“gotta walk ’em to pick ’em off, mom”), this year I think he got 4; lots of opposing coaches telling their runners ‘don’t mess around over there at first with him on the mound’. In the Championship game he pitched 8 innings (which is remarkable when you consider the fact he had only 1 complete 7-inning game during his entire high school career), gave up one hit and calmly got himself outta jams on 2 separate occasions (for the record – my pacing is directly proportional to the level of jam). After the game, a coach laid his arm across my shoulders and said, “Nothin’ like saving the best game of your career for the State Championship your senior year.” The kid did good.
He’s not all knuckle balls and pick offs, though… He bats cleanup and was top 2 in every batting category this season – at least he was before the playoffs started, we stopped looking at stats around the time of the D5 game – we’re a superstitious lot.
The best part of his game though, is his love of his teammates and coaches. You wanna complain about another player? Don’t do it with this kid around. You wanna question a move by a coach? Don’t let Cal hear you. He will not tolerate any disparaging comments about anybody connected to his game – and because of that, he’s taught me to be a better fan, a better athlete-parent, a better person. Throughout the season he would tell me, “We’re just hanging out, having a ton of fun playing ball, even the guys who don’t get to play are just having fun.” It was the perfect way to end his high school athletic career and this momma is thankful for each person in that dugout.
I’ve been asked by a number of people if Cal was nervous the morning of the Championship game as he was the starting pitcher. I offer this little story of his morning… you decide: Dan and I were walking Cal to the door, wishing him luck, telling him we’d see him in State College when he reached for the knob and couldn’t budge the door. There was a bit of frantic pulling on the door, to no avail. I smiled and asked, “You want me to text Travis and tell him you can’t make it because the door is locked?” Once we rectified that situation, the boy was on his way… 10 minutes later my cell chirped, it was Calvin, “Hey mom, can you meet me out back with my jersey?” He must’ve gotten it all out of his system because my boy went on to throw a gem of a game.
Kason Hinish (2B, bats 2, sophomore) Kason Hinish is that player who seems pretty good until you look at his stats and realize – this kid is awesome. I was reading the breakdown of games published in the Bedford Gazette and almost every clip mentioned Kason scoring. He’s perfect in the 2 slot with his consistent bat and ability to reach home. For me though, he will forever be the diving stop in the game against Williamsport. We were already down and couldn’t afford to allow baserunners. A kid sent one right up the middle. I started to lower my head in defeat but something made me stop and watch… out of nowhere Kason dove behind second base, came up firing from his knees, and got the out. It was major league type stuff.
Here’s a fun fact: I can confidently say that I believe Kason Hinish to be the only player in all of baseball who uses both hands when catching a fly ball – he is the player every coach dreams of. As if winning a baseball championship isn’t enough – Kason and his fishing partner earned a spot in the Bassmaster National High School Championship after placing 2nd in a statewide tournament earlier this spring. Kason is headed to South Carolina in August! He’s a talented kid!!
As an aside, Kason has 2 more seasons with Everett baseball – if you fans could proactively educate yourselves about rally caps – what they are, when to wear them, how to wear them, etc. Kason’s mom would really appreciate it… she’s one of the friendliest, most laid-back humans I’ve ever met – right up until the ump yells, “Play Ball!”.
Dalton Shaw (3B, P, bats 6, senior) I can say without hesitation that I will never in my lifetime witness another high school kid play the hot corner like Dalton Shaw. The kid is mesmerizing on third base. Collectively, we all hold our breath when a ball is hit up the line – and I’m not sure why – because, without fail, Dalton makes the stretch, sometimes well into foul territory, backhands the ball, plants, and fires across the field to get the out. I’ve seen him barehand a surprise bunt and make the throw to first with literally no part of his body touching the ground. He has no fear. I would run screaming, from some of the balls scorched his way, Dalton gobbles them up with little to no effort. He is far and away the best third baseman I’ve ever seen play and it has been a true honor to have a front-row seat for the entirety of his baseball days.
On the offensive side, Dalton had the winning hit for the Warriors in the playoff game against Portage. There was controversy and we needed the next batter’s RBI to get the official win but trust me on this – Dalton Shaw had the winning, walk-off RBI in the first game of the State Championship run. He is another young man who is tightly woven into my memories of Cal playing ball. Years and years of them hanging out, being little boys, fishing and goofing off. Dalton and his family have given Cal some of his most favorite childhood memories and I’m eternally grateful for how they’ve loved my son.
Karson Reffner (SS, 1B, 3B, C, P, bats 3, senior) basically Karson plays wherever he’s needed and he throws the ball harder than any person I know. I once saw him hit a batter in the helmet; the ball was thrown with such force that it careened off the helmet and flew over a 30+ft backstop {no players were injured in the making of that memory}. When he’s playing the field – you better keep your eye on him. Twelve or so years of my life have been spent ducking from his errant throws during warmups – inexplicably… when the ball is in play… the kid throws a perfect strike to the first baseman’s glove.
There is nothing more beautiful than Karson Reffner’s swing. It is true baseball artistry. He absolutely crushed a walk-off grand slam to send us to the final four game. Just prior to that blast he came in and threw 6 pitches to win the game – he does well on the mound, but he’ll tell you he only pitches because he has to. Can you imagine the pressure he was under? ‘Here kid, you haven’t pitched since May 18th, we’re in the playoffs, down by a run and we need you to take down their best hitter.’ And as usual… Kars was money.
This kid is Cal’s longest-tenured friend. He has the most infectious laugh and he sometimes forgets who he’s chatting with but of all Cal’s friends… knowing their high school years have come to an end… I now fully understand how Dorothy felt when she said goodbye to the Scarecrow…
Jadin Zinn (LF, bats 9, senior) Jaybird was unofficially voted by the parents as ‘the kid the other team least wants to hit with a pitch’. He’s a little… shall we say… full of life. That’s not to say he’s a bad kid – not at all; as a matter of fact, my most endearing memory of Jadin is not related to sports at all. I was chatting with him about his trip with the Votech to rebuild a home destroyed by a tornado in the Midwest, he said it was a cool experience and that he “felt good to be able to help somebody that had gone through that.” If only Jadin knew how often I’ve teared up thinking back on that conversation.
Jadin made some great catches during the season but his most extraordinary play came in the Williamsburg game when he made a perfect throw to get a runner at home. He’s a great left fielder but nobody expected that throw! He batted in the 9 spot – but he’s not a 9-hitter in little league terms, he’s a 9-hitter in major league terms. He’s there to keep the inning alive for the top of the order and he exceled at it. I’ve seen him launch a ball 450 ft, but the best hit of his life was a grounder between short and 3rd – he won the Championsip with that hit.
Jadin and Cal shared the Freshman Player of the Year award in their first year of high school football. I think his mom and I have a picture of the 2 of them after every football game over the last four years. Jaybird is a constant in Cal’s sports life and I’m not sure I’ll ever like a teammate of Cal’s more than I like Jadin.
Sid Grove (CF, P, 1B, bats 5, junior) Sid is probably the most complete baseball player on the team. He can do it all. He fields, he hits, he pitches, and man can that kid run. If a ball is hit anywhere between left and right field – Sid is gonna catch it. The plays Sid made would be highlight reel plays for any other player, but he made everything look so dang easy that instead of going wild, we’d just shrug and say, “Sid’s got it.” Cal threw a no-hitter this season and that stat falls squarely on Sid’s glove – he made a couple of plays that I won’t even attempt to describe because they’ll lose something in the telling. But know this… if he can’t get to a ball with his legs – he’ll lay out for it – and he’ll catch it. He runs like a deer – fast, graceful and with seemingly no effort.
I believe he ended the season with the highest batting average. If he was at the plate – be ready to cheer. And cheer we did when he had the game-winning hit against Delone Catholic, sending us to the Championship game. The only thing more impressive than his skill is his enthusiasm. I have such a vivid memory of him diving into third for a triple then jumping up with a growl that got his dugout AMPED UP.
I’m always caught off guard when I see Sid without his hat, he plays with such maturity that I forget he’s a kid… then he takes off his hat and I see the grin… and I remember – he’s only a junior in high school. The team is his next year… it’s in good hands.
Karl Foor (RF, bats 7, senior) before you read anything else about Karl – you need to know that this kid was in 2 car accidents between his 9th and 11th grade years. Both times he broke his pelvis. To recover from the second break he couldn’t put any weight on his legs for 6 months. And in his senior year – he was the starting right fielder for a State Champion team. I am awed by this kid. He was on base – a lot – and you could always hear his dad yelling “Stay Up!” because the thought of Karl needlessly sliding was gut wrenching for him… for all of us.
My biggest beef with Karl is the fact he cut his God-awful mullet in the middle of playoffs. Don’t get me wrong – it needed to be done… just not in the middle of playoffs. It all worked out in the end, and while Karl is always handsome, he’s especially handsome with that hair gone. I just wish he hadn’t poked at my superstitions to do it.
Karl did a great job in the field; every coach dreams of a kid who calls the ball when it’s in the air… “MeMeMe” was all I needed to hear to know it was an out. And while I credit Dalton with the walk-off hit in the Portage game – the officials had a different story in mind. They gave in to a questionable appeal claiming Cal missed 3rd base thereby nullifying his run and bringing Karl to the plate… the kid had ice in his veins. The controversy that preceded his at bat, the well over 15-minute discussion at midfield, the emotions of every fan and player, including his own… none of it affected Karl – he put the ball in play and won the game for Everett. Nothing stops this kid… he is an absolute miracle and I’ve been blessed to watch him shine for 12 years.
Macyn Klotz (DH, bats 8, junior) Macyn was the designated hitter for most of the season. He was clutch. It’s no easy task – coming out of the dugout once every 9 batters – but Macyn was a pro. When Karson launched his game-winning grand slam we needed only one run because of Trenten’s game-tying sac fly – Macyn scored that run. He was the kid who always seemed to be on base when we needed baserunners… I’ve said it a thousand times this season – the bottom of our batting order would’ve been the top of most other’s. In the Williamsport game we entered the bottom of the 7th inning, down a run, with the bottom half of our batting order due up. A few parents told me to speak my season-long mantra… I looked each of them square in the eye, felt it deep in my heart and said, “the bottom part of our order has been saving our bacon all season long.” Macyn was the quintessential bacon-saver.
Jacob Price (Pinch Runner, senior) where do I start with Jacob? How about here: in the last 3 games of the championship run he pinch ran for different players and scored to either tie or win the game. In the Elite Eight game he scored on Trenten’s sac fly to tie the game. In the final four game he scored on Sid’s hit to win the game. In the Championsip game he jumped on the plate for the winning run, scoring on Jadin’s hit.
Let me tell you about pinch runners… sure the kid has to be fast (Jacob is frequently called Wheels) but more importantly he has to have an outstanding baseball IQ. The last thing he wants to do is hurt his team. And finally, he has to be coachable. He gets one, maybe two, chances per game to do something… most kids would take chances just to be the hero. Not Jacob. He listened to his coach and he did what he was supposed to do… in 3 consecutive, big time games.
Lest you think a team’s success relies only on starters, I present to you the 5 players who worked their tail ends off to make this team great. They are the players who showed up everyday to make everybody better. They ran out game-time situations on the base path, they played the field during batting practice and they earned their medals.
Kasey Weaver (OF, junior) Kasey was the definition of ‘next man up’. He was the guy who came in when we were down a player. He did his job well both in the field and at the plate. I’m not sure I’m able to separate Cal’s baseball life from Kasey’s family… The Weavers have been an integral part of Cal’s baseball life since day one and they deserve a great deal of the credit for Cal’s love of the game. Their friendship is a gift that I cherish.
Drake Fetters (Utility, sophomore) Drake was injured during a sport… I should probably know more but the kid plays 3 sports and has no fear so, in my defense, it’s hard to keep track. The origin of his surgery aside – this kid is dedicated to every team he suits up for. Drake had PT almost every day after school and yet, the kid never missed a practice. I’m excited to follow him the next 2 years, his grit will make him a player to watch.
George Kuhne (3B, sophomore) and Reese Sherwood (CF, sophomore) I feel bad grouping these two together but when I talked to Cal about them – he grouped them when he referred to them as the smartest people he’s ever known… after I nursed my wounded ego… I can see that there might be some truth to his assessment. These boys’ future is so bright and their skills on the baseball field will only add to their shine. They are ball players who also happen to be geniuses… they will be starters next year and they will do the team proud.
Jesse Moore (OF, sophomore) Jesse is probably the most successful Everett athlete on the team. He’s no stranger to big games as the Everett boys’ soccer team has participated in a number of playoff games with Jesse on the roster, I don’t think this is all coincidence… Jesse will be an important cog in the future success of this baseball team.
And that is the full 16-man roster. And it’s only part of the story… ’cause every team has coaches. And boy – do we have coaches. The amount of baseball knowledge these 4 men possess is astronomical; they are fascinating to watch in action.
Corey Reffner (asst coach, dad) these days Corey is most widely known as Karson’s dad but there was a time when he was THE southpaw of the area. Corey brings a lot to the team. Most notably, he brings experience; he’s played ball at a pretty high level. But he also brings a sense of calm and comfort to the boys – he’s been sharing a dugout with these young men since t-ball (Cal does a pretty good impression of Corey… ask him sometime). When Cal decided to play baseball in college instead of football, Corey was the person I talked to about it. Sure, he’s a lefty AND he has college baseball experience but more importantly, he’s been a constant in Cal’s baseball life and personal life for as far back as I can remember. I knew he was the person we needed.
Les Lepako (asst coach, Rubber Arm) Coach Les is the perennial batting practice pitcher. He exceeds the 100- pitch limit every single day and the boys adore this man. He’s quiet, always smiling and I believe he’s the oldest… ehem… most senior member of the team – and he keeps them all young.
Mike Kline (asst coach, 1B coach) I think my favorite memory of Coach Kline is watching him lean toward our dugout while coaching first, to explain to our boys how a ball should’ve been played by the other team. He never misses an opportunity to teach; apparently, he also never misses an opportunity to tell a good story. We were at an awards ceremony with Mr. Kline and the 4 I’s left, leaving Cal behind. Cal got home 45 minutes later because “…you don’t walk away when Coach Kline is telling stories.” Cal calls him ‘the most quotable guy he knows’. Of all the coaches, Coach Kline seems the most “old-school”. He carries himself with a no-nonsense air and you fall into the trap of thinking he’s a drill sergeant in cleats… until you see his subtle grin when the boys do something goofy or you see him lay his arm across a player’s shoulder, telling him to have a short memory – an error doesn’t make him a bad player – then he coaches the kid for the next time. He’s the perfect match to our head coach.
Travis Klahre (head coach, manager) In baseball, the head coach is called a manager, but I think in talking about Travis, I need to use both titles. Travis, as a head coach, is exactly who this team needed. He trusted the talent he had. He didn’t over-coach. He was the yin to Mike’s yang, but just as Mike isn’t as tough as he seems, Travis can be tougher than ya think. The boys wanted to win for both of them and that speaks volumes about them as coaches and as people.
Travis was also a manager of the game and he made 3 decisions this season that let me know he was the right guy for the job. The first decision was having a DH for Ian. We’ll never know if that decision was perfect because we’ll never know how Ian might’ve finished out the season at the plate, but we DO know that Macyn was clutch. It had to be an incredibly difficult decision for a father… but as a manager, he did what he felt was in the best interest of the TEAM. It has always been about the team for Travis…
The second decision was pulling Trenten at the end of the semi-final game. Trenten was throwing a magnificent game. He had plenty of pitches left to finish… but not enough to be available 3 days later in the Championship game. So Travis put Cal on the mound – and Cal promptly gave up a double to the first batter he faced. My lord the sweating Travis had to’ve been doing… But, in my opinion, that one decision won us the Championship game. I think Cal pitched better on Thursday because he knew Trenten was available and I think Sid and Karson played better because they knew they wouldn’t have to come in. Cal pitched more innings than he has ever pitched in his life, he’s never been more efficient, but with extra innings – we needed the righty to come in and finish it up. Pulling Trenten 3 days earlier was sheer baseball genius. Travis thinks the decision was – at the time – unwelcome. He’s wrong… everybody knew why he did it, and everybody applauded him.
The third decision is less about making ball players and more about developing human beings. As I’ve mentioned, there was no standout, no MVP on this team and we had 6 starting seniors; because of that, the team had no captain. When the umps would call for coaches and captains, Travis took the starting pitcher with him. In the rotation, Cal was the starter for the Championship game. But… we have another ace pitcher who got us there, too… I heard the umps make the call and I silently begged Travis to take both Cal and Trenten… it was the right thing to do, it was the ONLY thing to do…. I looked down and saw Trenten lay down his glove and head toward home plate and tears spilled down my face. Travis most definitely understood the assignment… all season long.
A lot has been made of this team – their list of engagements is staggering – but it is rightfully deserved. They made history and for a few weeks they electrified this little town and the surrounding areas; they brought a sense of community back when it was desperately needed. They did it by having fun and by playing as a team. Yes, you could say our team was stacked with talent but it was the positive vibe of this team that got them the trophy. A vibe that started at the top and trickled down to the dugout and out to the bleachers. This team is all that is right in the world… and how lucky am I that I had a front row seat?
