One Town By Day, Falcon Pride By Night (Afternoon)

Working in the Warde and Ludlowe Athletic Departments, my slogan, or what I use as a hashtag on Twitter and Instagram is "One Town." It's basically saying that even though we have two schools, we are one town and should support one another and how great it would be if we were one school, at least for sports. It's also my way of not getting yelled at (too much) since everyone knows I am a Ludlowe guy, having gone there and been around the school and sports teams for the past 10 years.

That being said, I have enjoyed working at Warde and getting to know people there, both staff, including coaches, and students.

Now that I am coaching baseball at Ludlowe, that's where the "Falcon Pride by night" comes in. I just came up with this two part slogan this week as we played Warde in baseball on Friday afternoon.

We came in with a 15-2 record, while Warde came in with a 7-10 record. Warde played a fantastic game and won 8-0 and clinched a state tournament berth in the process. It was personally very interesting to me as I deal with the coaches and student-athletes at both schools. I am obviously friendly with the Ludlowe coaches and players but am also very friendly with Brett Conner, John Galucci and Tony Catapano on the Warde staff. I've also gotten to know a few of the players.

Since graduating from high school, even before starting this job, I have said that I root for Warde unless they are playing Ludlowe, or if it impacts Ludlowe. Other Ludlowe/Warde sports have been tough this year, especially basketball since that's the other sport I was and am still very involved with. There have been some Ludlowe/Warde games where I even felt somewhat up in the air or didn't care as much who won and maybe this is good so I can be impartial and not show favoritism. Today had to me the most interesting and the toughest for a few reasons (this is not to say that basketball was not tough, it was, THREE times). First of all, baseball is my number one sport. Second, being of the coaching staff and working with the team day in and day out, and finally, due to the season we are having and the fact that it was senior day for our seniors.

I am obviously disappointed we lost but happy for Warde as they clinched a state tournament berth, I just wish it wasn't against us (I am sure I will take heat for this comment). I have already gotten comments from Warde people about the game and I am sure it will continue Monday morning when I am there. I was getting them before the game and most definitely after the game. It's the nature of the position I am in and it's all in good fun.

I hope both teams do well and maybe we meet in the playoffs. I would love that and dread that at once.

One Town! Falcon Pride!