They entered the National District tournament championship last spring with a 14-4 record and a top seed. But within a span of five days Edison felt like all the good it accomplished was washed away.
There was no banner after a 5-0 loss to rival Washington-Lee in the district final last May 23. And the Eagles were embarrassed after Robinson whipped them at home, 14-6, on May 28 in the first round of the Northern Region tournament. There were few positives for Edison to take out of those two season-ending losses.
Except one.
Almost every player on that team would return for another chance.
The Eagles graduated two quality seniors in Thomas Gibbs and Kevin Engelmann. But they brought back a nucleus of 12 players, most of whom played together for years during the summer on Little League and club baseball teams. Half were entering their third year as starters and another, senior shortstop Ben Stokes, was a four-year starter.
“I don’t know if those losses last year were a reality check or what,” said senior center fielder Devin Crane. “But we wanted to play as much baseball as possible over the summer and get ourselves back to this point. We’re not going to be overconfident about anything.”
Where the Eagles are is again atop the National District standings. Edison was 12-5 entering last night’s game against second-place Washington-Lee and had already clinched the top seed in next week’s district tournament. But this year there was an added benefit to placing first during the regular season: A district championship banner.
That move came about because of Loudoun Valley’s placement in the National District for postseason games only. Since the Vikings (13-5) play a non-district Group AA schedule, activities directors did not want a championship banner going to a team that did not participate in a full district schedule. That honor would go to the regular-season champion.
It is Edison’s first district title since 1982, a few years before any of the players who won it were even born. There was a brief celebration and acknowledgment of their success. And then it was time to refocus.
“We felt like we had one stolen from us last year,” said senior third baseman Phillip Boone. “But I think we understand we haven’t accomplished anything yet. Our next goal is to win some games in the region tournament.”
The Eagles have a solid pitching staff, led by senior Mike Kirik, who has a 3-2 record and a 1.45 earned run average and averages more than one strikeout per inning. Junior Josh Miller is a solid No. 2 with a 4-1 record and a 3.07 ERA. But the Eagles’ strength may be a lineup where all nine starters bat .293 or better and seven players have at least 10 RBI.
“This was just one of our goals,” said Edison coach Jeff Feaster. “I want them to appreciate what we’ve accomplished. But this team can go as far as it wants. There is more there for us than just a district championship.”
Fly like an Eagle
» Edison did finish first in the National District during the regular season in 1998, but did not win a district championship title because that honor went to the district tournament winner.
» In his four years as head coach, Edison’s Jeff Feaster has seen his team improve every season. The Eagles were 5-13 in 2003, 9-14 in 2004 and 14-6 in 2005. They still have one regular season game left against Wakefield.
» Senior center fielder Devin Crane leads Edison with a.449 batting average and a team-high 22 runs scored. He has also stolen seven bases and driven in seven runs.
