By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
Three state championships, a 23-game winning streak and a 33-9-1 record.
By almost every measure, the Hammer-Pfeifer 12U baseball team put together one of the most successful seasons in Hays Baseball Club history.
The Hays Baseball Club squad captured the USSSA Class AAA Midwest Global State Championship in Liberty, Missouri, the USSSA West Kansas State Championship in Goddard and the HAP Dumont Class AAA State Championship in Goddard, completing a championship run that saw the team represent Hays against top competition throughout Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
For coach Jason Pfeifer, the championships were not built over one weekend. They were the result of months of preparation, a demanding schedule and a group of players who embraced the challenge.
"This group really put things together for the last half of the season and really came together as a group," Pfeifer said. "We struggled early, and they were challenged with a tough schedule from the start, playing a lot of major teams and a tough trip down to Oklahoma and all the great teams from the Wichita area."
Rather than easing into the season, Pfeifer intentionally sought out some of the region's best competition.
"Something I chose to do to maybe send a message that we need to continue to work hard and strive to get better each and every day, but also challenge them early," he said.
The approach paid off.
After an up-and-down start, Hammer-Pfeifer found its rhythm and never looked back, winning 23-consecutive games to close the season and claiming three state championships.
Pfeifer said one of the team's greatest strengths was that success never depended on one player.
"It was just an amazing run this group had and so many different players coming through in big moments at different times," he said. "Certainly, some roles are bigger than others, but no matter, each kid had their moment where they came up big for their team and couldn't have done it without each and every one of them."
The coach also credited the team's passion for the game and the support surrounding the program.
"I think we have a team full of guys that really love the game, a lot, like our coaching staff and me," Pfeifer said. "We try to extend that passion for the game to the boys. We also have great support from our parents, player families and fans that support this team and the players also."
Pfeifer said preparation for the season began in January and the coaching staff focused heavily on fundamentals before refining the finer details as opening day approached. Throughout the season, practices continued to emphasize areas that needed improvement while making small adjustments from week to week.
He said talent and chemistry were important, but one area separated this team from previous groups.
"I would say maybe the one thing that started to stand out this year and what may have been the biggest difference maker was each player's mental approach and attitude," Pfeifer said.
"Although at times tested and sometimes losing focus or letting the frustrations of the game take over, we really started to see these players stay poised, under control and realize they must move on to the next pitch."
As the players matured, Pfeifer said practices and games became opportunities to teach the game on a deeper level.
"I can recall so many intelligent conversations with all these players about what they are seeing and feeling, or what we are seeing as coaches for the small adjustments we need to make," he said. "It's really getting fun as they get older and mature enough to learn the game at a higher level."
The team also gained valuable experience by traveling throughout the region to face unfamiliar opponents. Pfeifer said those trips reinforced lessons that extend beyond baseball.
"We've always preached that the game of baseball translates to real life," he said. "Just working hard to make them great players and teammates on the field, as well as great people off the field."
Pfeifer said he constantly reminds his players to focus on the things they can control, including their attitude, preparation, work ethic and effort, while accepting that some breaks will not go their way.
"I've always emphasized baseball as being a game of inches to this group," he said. "Working hard, doing the little things, being focused and prepared and giving it everything you have between the lines will translate to being on the right side of that inch more often than not.
"And there will be many times where you are on the wrong side of that inch, and that's baseball. Control what you can and do your very best, and at the end of the day, you can't regret anything or say you didn't give your all."
Although the team experienced dramatic comebacks and close victories throughout the season, Pfeifer said there was not one defining game.
"I just think this group is really starting to mature with their mindset and approach to the game, and that's what I think got us over the hump, created the success and run that they had," he said.
Hammer-Pfeifer's championship roster included Kellan Augustine, Quintyn Bauck, Nolan Clark, Colin Dinkel, Bentley Gerstner, Braxton Hart, Mason Haselhorst, Jaylin Irvin, Creed Morgan, Ansen Mortinger, Jackson Pfeifer, Grayson Tuzicka and Liam Wise.
Looking back on the season, Pfeifer said the championships were the reward for months of hard work by the players, coaches and families who supported the team every step of the way.
"Such an amazing group of kids and extremely proud of them and their achievements," he said. "It took a lot of hard work for them to get here and it's going to take a lot more to be able to keep it going and stay there. We are all just so thankful for this group and thankful for the game."