BASEBALL: Kentridge’s ‘miracle’ sparks season of success

The Kentridge High baseball team didn’t need a miracle.

But after graduating 13 seniors from last year’s team, the Chargers certainly needed a shot of confidence to contend this spring in the rugged South Puget Sound League North Division.

“Nobody thought we were going to be anybody at the start of the season,” third baseman Kyle Leady said. “Our goal was to be a somewhat competitive team, put up decent numbers and not be embarrassed like everybody thought.”

Not getting “embarrassed” or finishing a game out of the playoff race for a second straight season wasn’t good enough.

Leady knew it as did ace righthander Ian Buckles.

So the team’s co-captains set out to change the culture on the Kentridge diamond.

And it all started with perfect timing, a dry delivery, and a miracle. More specifically, it started with “The Miracle,” a 2004 movie based on the U.S. hockey team’s miraculous victory against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Playing the part of legendary coach Herb Brooks, actor Kurt Russell gives his team a speech that sparked one of the greatest victories in Olympic hockey history.

That speech has taken on new meaning for the players wearing green and gold this spring.

Before Kentridge’s first game of the season, a nonleaguer against Issaquah, Leady recognized that the Chargers needed a spark. Using “The Miracle” as inspiration, Leady revamped Brooks’ speech to fit the moment.

And he hit it dead on.

“He practiced it,” explained Buckles, the team’s high-energy pitcher who serves as the perfect balance on the field to Leady’s comedic act. “Before the (Issaquah) game, he tried it out and it just stuck. It has become a big rallying point for us. The guys love it, and it gets us ready to play.”

Indeed it has.

Once an afterthought in the playoff race, the no-name Chargers have cemented themselves as a postseason team.

One that’s not yet done making any noise.

“It has turned into a tradition,” Leady said of the speech.

With Leady and Buckles leading by example, there’s been no need for pre-game pep talks, according to Kentridge coach John Flanigan.

“We haven’t had to do any of it,” Flanigan said.

It has kept the Chargers loose during moments when, in past seasons, they might have tightened up. Along the way, the Chargers have found their winning groove. After giving the initial speech, Kentridge proceeded to run off five wins in a row to start the season, including victories against defending Class 4A state champion Kentwood, 8-3, and SPSL North title contender Kentlake, 14-4.

At 9-5 in league and 12-5 overall, the Chargers entered the week with a playoff berth in hand.

Yet, the success hasn’t been all about the pre-game ritual that has those in the Kentridge community talking just as much as they’re laughing. In fact, the Chargers have come together as a complete team this spring and mixed in timely hitting, good pitching and steady defense, too.

And Kentridge has done it thanks to contributions throughout its lineup. Though Leady has supplied the big bat in the middle of the lineup and is among the league leaders in home runs with four, seven different Chargers have gone deep at least once.

In addition, Buckles has been pitching the best baseball of his life during his senior season. A right-hander with a devastating changeup, Buckles picked up that early-season win over Kentwood by serving up a complete-game performance and six strikeouts.

The victory gave the Chargers the confidence they were sorely lacking when the season began.

“That was huge because Kentwood was the reigning state champions, and to come out and beat those guys was big,” said Buckles, who will play at George Fox University next year. “Before that game, there were some doubts on our team. We didn’t know if we’d be able to come out and compete.”

The Chargers have done more than compete.

They’ve challenged, which was evident during a stretch two weeks ago when Kentridge racked up four wins in five days to further firm up its playoff status. During that streak, the Chargers received something from just about everyone on the roster:

• Ben Krueger collected four hits, and Axl Snure added five RBIs in a 12-2 win over Kent-Meridian.

• Carl Derline added three hits and two RBIs in another win over Kent-Meridian, this time by a score of 13-2.

• Buckles delivered a gem in a 4-3 victory against Kentlake in the middle of the run.

• Leady began the week with a home run and ended it in the same fashion, going deep against Kent-Meridian and again against Auburn Riverside.

Even with the team effort, the tone was set by Buckles and Leady early on.

“They are amazing leaders off the field. Ian is up for every pitch. His slogan coming into the season was, ‘Every pitch, every inning, all game long.’ And the players have bought into that,” Flanigan said. “And Kyle just keeps everybody loose and is the funny guy.”

And all it took was a miracle.

Or more to the point, all it took was “The Miracle.”

The Miracle

Below is a look at the speech coach Herb Brooks gave to the U.S. Olympic hockey team before it knocked off the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Great moments are born from great opportunity.

And that’s what you have here tonight, boys.

That’s what you’ve earned here, tonight.

One game.

If we played ‘em ten times, they might win nine.

But not this game. Not tonight.

Tonight, we skate with ‘em.

Tonight, we stay with ‘em, and we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.

You were born to be hockey players — every one of ya.

And you were meant to be here tonight.

This is your time.

Their time — is done. It’s over.

I’m sick and tired of hearin’ about what a great hockey team the Soviets have.

Screw ‘em!

This is your time!

Now go out there and take it!