The crowd was on the edge of their seats; As the final seconds of the game began counting down — and it was apparent that Grant High School had secured a victory — a swarm of fans, all wearing blue, charged the field to congratulate the team. The final score was 8-2, representing the first time since 1968 that Grant’s baseball team reached, and won, the semi-finals of the state championship, with standout player and now Grant alum Kaeden Cruse leading the team to its overwhelming victory with his two back-to-back home runs.
After an exhilarating final game and fierce competition from both teams, the Generals lost to Sunset High School. Devastation was felt throughout the team and fans alike. However, the team understood that making it this far and creating memories along the way was a large success.
Cruse’s efforts towards his team did not go unnoticed. In. Cruse plans to continue playing baseball at Clark Community College. He’s excited about the freedom of college life, though he will miss certain aspects of high school, including getting to play with his team.
Reflecting on his experience as a senior on the team, Cruse says, “I’m pretty sad that we’re leaving, but also I’m pretty excited I got to finish my season with these guys. (I) love a lot of them.”
The contributions of the Grant community as the Generals headed into the final game were unmatched. People of all ages traveled to Roto-Rooter Park to cheer for the team — the stadium was filled with blue as students cheered for their
Grant juniors Parker Lorie and Cole Glassberg were seated first row in the stands, leading cheers for their peers behind them. Glassburg and Lorie noticed that the team’s continued success brought more people and passion to each game. ¨Watching this team as they move through the ranks, each round, they go higher. More and more people start to show up and bring more passion, says Glassberg.
Nine-year-old fan Oscar Wilson expressed his amazement at the Generals’ progress. “I think it’s very historical, Grant winning the playoffs, because it hasn’t happened in a long time,” he says.
Upon arrival at the state finals game in Salem, fans were instantly surrounded by the intense emotions. The team members were excited, yet radiating with nerves and looking to their coach for supportive words, guidance and encouragement.
In a pre-finals interview with Orion Scarpine, a sophomore at Grant High School, he reflected on the surreal experience of playing in a big stadium, highlighting the team’s unexpected success and the adversity faced, particularly the comeback against Jesuit. Connor Siegel, another sophomore, expressed excitement about playing with his team and the supportive Grant community. Grant Snidow, a sophomore shortstop, values the camaraderie and community built over eight years with his teammates. “We’ve all played with each other for almost eight years, so I’ve known each other from that, and just the community building is so easy when you’re all having fun.” When asked at the end of the interview, Snidow cites his brother as his baseball hero, telling how going to his brother’s games inspired him when playing in important games. The players emphasize the importance of leadership from seniors and the energy from the crowd, especially during the playoffs.
Head coach Matt Kabza attributes the team’s success to its supportive community and growth in skill and team chemistry. Kabza believes that the experience of playing in a minor league ballpark will be a lasting memory for the players. He says the game set a strong foundation for the future of Grant baseball, making the state championship a realistic goal for the next four years. “We’ve grown quite a bit,” he says. “I think the defining thing about this group is not necessarily how they’ve grown skill-wise, but how they’ve grown as a team, and as friends and brothers, and I think there’s a lot of love on this team.”
