Drew Sechler column: Thanks for the memories, guys

Well, that's it. After falling behind 12-0 to Midland (Mich.), most of Rowan Legion's fans had given up on their team, heads pointed toward the ground, already thinking about heading home tomorrow and reminiscing on a magical season.

I mean, could you really blame us for thinking this was the end of the road for our guys?

Turns out in the end, it essentially was, but after an eight-run inning, those heads started to turn upwards and Rowan fans began to think, "Can they really do this?"

Unfortunately for our guys, they came up one run short, stranding the tying run at second base, ending a season that no one who was a part of this cardiac bunch will soon forget.

This T-E-A-M brought passion, desire and a will to win that cannot be matched.

Other Rowan teams may have had more talent than this year's bunch, but that desire and want is something that you have to have in order to make it this far.

The 2009 American Legion World Series will have to be completed without those Rowan boys, disappointing to say the least. I know all of Rowan County seemed to latch on to what was going on in Fargo, N.D., the past couple of days and I know the team appreciates the support.

So it's back to Salisbury now, for us and for the team. I know a big crowd will be waiting for the Rowan team when they get off that bus at Catawba College.

It's always sad when the season ends. You're around the same people for two months and you form friendships and share your life with those same people, and then it has to come to an end.

Students have to go back to school, parents go back to work, and people go back to their non-American Legion baseball lives, which they have become accustomed to.

You get used to it after a while, and then one day, maybe in the dead of winter, you think of those people, and those awesome players, and you'll remember that awesome ride they took you on in that summer of 2009.

I'd say that's a nice memory to live on.