Birmingham-Southern begins play in the D-III World Series the same day school closes

EASTLAKE, Ohio (AP) — In most cases, the last day of school is cause for celebration, a needed break, a chance to refresh during the summer.

Not at Birmingham-South. It’s a painful ending.

The small liberal arts college, which opened a year before Abraham Lincoln became president, is officially closing Friday, the latest chapter in a protracted financial struggle the school has been unable to overcome.

The baseball team fights on.

Bound by adversity and overcoming numerous obstacles along the way, the Panthers uplifted the close-knit Birmingham-Southern community, advancing to the Division III World Series – one last change at the school’s first national championship.

“That would mean everything,” second baseman Andrew Dutton said. “All the guys are so hungry for it. We’re all here for one thing and that would be a great story. Hopefully we can get it done.”

One of eight teams left in the field, No. 7 seed Birmingham-Southern opens the double-elimination tournament against No. 2 Salve Regina at Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains, a High-A affiliate of the Cleveland minor leagues. The guards.

The Panthers’ story of loss, determination and unity not only united the school’s proud alumni, staff and faculty during a difficult time, but they became a national sensation with fans across the country.

On Thursday, Topps announced it will produce a limited-run trading card featuring an improbable Birmingham-Southern run. The book will feature the Panthers celebrating their Super Regional and World Series victory — a game they played while plagued by a team-wide stomach virus.

At one point during that 7-6 win at Denison, coach Jan Weisberg, who has built one of the nation’s best D-III programs over 17 years at the school, was filled with more pride when he’s seen players getting IVs just to get through. the game.

In March, when the school announced it would close its doors for good on May 31, Weisberg stood in front of his team and broke the news to his players. Many of them burst into tears.

As his team took batting practice Thursday, Weisberg recalled the message that clearly took place.

“There will always be pain in your life,” he told them. “There will always be uncertainty. It will always be hard work to do. It all came back to COVID and these guys were all in high school or college and they thought this was going to be the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to them. their.

“But I said, hey man, look at it three years later and you’re good. You will all be fine. You don’t see it now. I think that’s why we’re here.”

While guiding his team through an unexpected, almost unimaginable season, Weisberg, who rents a house on a campus in Birmingham and is becoming barren by the day, has had to adapt on the fly.

The night before the Panthers’ opening-round NCAA Tournament game, he was informed that the host school did not allow cleats on their turf. With no time to waste, he went to a sporting goods store and bought $3,000 worth of plastic cleats.

“I wore them for three days and played great,” Weisberg said. “My assistant said, ‘What are we going to do. Isn’t that in the budget?” And I said, what are they going to do, fire me?”

Birmingham-Southern has gone 19-4 since the school announced its permanent closure, and Weisberg said his team has become the closest he’s coached.

Before taking a charter flight to Cleveland on Tuesday, the Panthers gathered for their final practice on the school’s campus, where dumpsters are filled with memories.

As he walked the familiar route from home to school, fifth-year outfielder Ian Hancock was struck by the finality of it all.

“The fact that it was practice and honestly the last thing that happened on that field was bittersweet,” the Roswell, Ga., slugger said. “We have all this excitement with the World Series, but the fact that it was the end of a chapter there for the program was sad.”

Hancock was given the honor of being the last to take batting practice.

On his last swing, he connected for a home run, sparking an impromptu celebration as the Panthers screamed and danced on a field they would never play again.

For a moment, Weisberg smiled. Later, he hit him hard.

“I got a little emotional,” he said. “This run has been so much fun that all the positive aspects of it have taken away the feelings of, oh, this is it. I thank these guys for that.”

__

AP College Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports