“We want to make it to sectionals. That is our goal. We need seven wins to qualify.”
-Kyle Jakovic ’19, when DS was 3-6 with only 5 games to play
Doane Stuart students set very lofty goals for themselves. One can therefore understand Kyle and the other members of the team setting what was an honorable but unlikely goal for the 2016 baseball season. They had much to overcome in simply fielding a team, let alone making it to postseason play. This is, after all, Doane Stuart’s first season in five years. If they accomplished just that – bringing baseball back to Doane Stuart – then they could view this year as a great success, their mark left indelibly on the history of our school. But this group of students – Michael ’17 and Kyle ’19 Jakovic of Albany, Sam Kinum ’17 of Delmar and Thomas Kirby ’18 of Athens never gave up and, just maybe, knew far more than we did.
Making it to sectionals was a long shot. At the halfway point of the season they were 3-6 but still were mathematically alive to reach the 7 wins needed to qualify for the Class D Tournament. To qualify they would have to finish with a 4-1 record. Once again, with everything stacked against them – no home field to play on and a young team with a mixture of ability levels – they banded together, fought for each other, and scraped out one win after another. Amazingly, they finished the season on a 3-0 run. Each one of these games was essentially an elimination game; lose and their postseason dreams would end. But the loss never came and the boys kept on fighting. 4-7 with their backs against the wall, in three quick games, turned to 7-7 and playoff glory.
The signature win came against Waterford, a victory that feels like something out of a movie. DS, the smaller Class D team went on the road needing to win the final game of the season to qualify for the playoffs, having to play against Waterford, the bigger Class C school and one of the better teams in the league. You can forgive me if I begin to play the classic theme from the movie version of The Natural. And, like so many feel-good baseball movies, the plucky underdogs played one of their best games of the season and punched out a 3-1 win.
This win marked DS’ only victory against a Class C team. Against Class D teams, DS posted a very respectable 6-4 record. Michael Jakovic tossed 6 2/3 innings of one run ball, racking up 11 Ks. Dan Sausto ’16 of Slingerlands came in to earn the save, completing the 3-1 victory. Michael, who shifted to shortstop after being relieved, caught the final out. Once again, just like something out of a movie.
If you have followed this season at all, you know DS has ridden the remarkable arms of Dan and Michael. Dan posted a regular season ERA of 1.97 with 70 Ks over 36 2/3 innings (a ridiculous 13.3 K/7 average). Michael posted a 3.32 ERA with 52 Ks over 38 innings (9.6 Ks/7 average). I would happily add both of them to my fantasy baseball team roster with those kinds of numbers!
And just like that, DS qualified for sectionals. They are scheduled to play at #1 Fort Ann on Thursday, May 19 at 4:00pm. It will not be an easy task. Fort Ann is undefeated and currently #2 in the state for Class D. But the boys and Coach Wheaton have achieved every lofty goal they set for themselves this season. Why not check one more off the list? Should DS win they will play the winner of #5 New Lebanon versus #4 OESJ.
Join us in saying congratulations and wishing good luck to this amazing group of students! We are thrilled to follow along with your successes this season. Go Thunder Chickens! Beat Fort Ann!