Trojans, Dragons celebrate Senior Night
Parkers Chapel and Junction City have played some storied games in their rivalry over the years, but none may have meant more than the two games they played against each other on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In March, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic ended all spring sports competition, leaving the Trojans and Dragons to ponder what might’ve been for their respective seasons.
But with restrictions being eased and the Arkansas Activities Association ending its dead period stemming from the pandemic at the end of May, Parkers Chapel coach Mark Looney and Junction City coach Joe Paul Hammett looked for a way for their senior classes, each of whom played pivotal roles on teams that won state titles with the Trojans winning in 2018 and the Dragons in 2019, to be recognized.
“With the high school season canceled, my No. 1 priority was to get the seniors one more time at Parkers Chapel,” Looney said. “We only had the opportunity to play four games. With Junction City being only 12 miles away, I knew he would oblige if they could get his seniors on their field one last time.” Hammett agreed.
“It was a good idea for my seniors that wanted to have one more game at home and be recognized like we do usually on the last home game during a regular season,” Hammett said.
On Tuesday, the Trojans and Dragons met at Junction City with the Dragons’ seniors getting the opportunity to be recognized by friends and family.
A day later, the schools met at Parkers Chapel with Tyler Martin, a senior who had missed the few games teams did play in March due to an injury suffered in practice, got to make one final start at Robert McKinnon Park.
He threw a five-inning shutout. “All of my seniors played except for Tyler Martin, who broke his hand in practice,” Looney said. “He didn’t get to play, so my goal was to get one more game for Tyler, and for our seniors to play and honor
them.”
It is customary to shake hands at the end of the game, but that has been made impossible with the pandemic ongoing.
Instead, the teams made perhaps the simplest, but most symbolic gesture they could under the circumstances.
They tipped their caps to one another.
Both coaches were appreciative of bringing some closure to the 2020 season and giving their seniors as much of a proper sendoff as they could.
“Unfortunately, some of my seniors had moved on to summer ball and didn't play, but for the ones that were able to play, they really enjoyed it,” Hammett said. “We appreciate Coach Looney and PC for teaming up with us to do this!”
“I want to thank Joe Paul and the kids at Junction City,” Looney said. “It was a tremendous two nights, not only to play baseball for the first time in three months, but to recognize those seniors who put in so many hours. It was an honor. The last two nights, it wasn't about winning and losing, it was about the opportunity for the seniors to play one last time.
“Other than winning four state titles, I got more joy out of the last two nights than anything in my career. It was about getting to play again. You don't know what you have until it's taken away. You quit taking things for granted. It makes you appreciate it.”