The 2020 Staples High School baseball team could not defend its ’19 state and FCIAC championships — because there was no ’20 season. COVID-19 knocked out all spring sports in the state.
But the Wrecker coaches and Diamond Club boosters found a way to honor the athletes who would have played.
Yesterday, they held a traditional “Senior Day” in a very non-traditional way.
Family members lined the field — masked and socially distanced, of course.
A guest speaker — Staples alum Dave Ruden, publisher of the all-FCIAC, all-the-time sports site The Ruden Report — praised the players and the program.
Dave Ruden addresses the crowd.
Coach Jack McFarland presented the school’s 2 highest awards — Block “S” trophies — to well-deserving recipients.
Most Valuable Player honors went to all the seniors.
And the Coaches’ Award was presented to longtime manager/superfan/ inspiration Dylan Curran. He gave a gracious speech, thanking each coach and every player for always including him and making him feel a part of the team.
He promised he would always come back to cheer Staples on, from his next destination: Sacred Heart University.
Dylan Curran (Photos/Chris Greer)
The day ended with the unveiling of a plaque. It noted that the Wreckers were ranked #31 in a national pre-season poll. We’ll never know where they would have ended up, if they had actually played games.
It wasn’t the Senior Day any of the Wreckers — or their friends and families — dreamed of.
But considering the coronavirus circumstances, it was a grand slam.
Dylan Curran continues to astonish me. In all my years, I have never seen any man, woman or child more beloved than this kid! And go Wreckers—sad that you guys couldn’t repeat last year’s championships but the next group is gonna kill it in 2021!!!
Wow, Beth, you captured so much!!! There is not much more I can add except a BIG THANK’s for all the effort the Coaches (Macfarland and Sikorsky) have shown to Dylan and all the players on the Staples Wreckers Team!!!!