ALL STARS

The heartbreak of the state final loss in basketball lingers far too long, but the life lessons learned in sport will far outweigh the heartbreak-or at least, that's what my parents keep telling me. Still, just once, I'd like to be on the other side of that learning curve.

I have played on two excellent teams in my sophomore year and am looking forward to another season of success. Baseball may be my third-best sport, but our baseball program under Coach Mack has been dominant in the CVL for years. With our two dominant pitchers returning and a host of veterans, the season holds great promise.

I play center field and would probably be our third starting pitcher. I was a switch hitter and was right-handed and had some power, which hadn't shown itself yet from the left side.

Baseball feels different from both football and basketball. It was somehow more relaxing and seemed, at times, to be almost a slow-motion game. But when the pitcher throws the ball, the tension ramps up in a hurry.

We are the defending league champs and will have a bull's-eye on our backs as we head into the season. But this team has it all-power at the plate, excellent starting pitching, and the best coach in Iowa. I like the combination.