ALL STARS

<p>The heartbreak of the state final loss in basketball lingers far too long but the life lessons learned in sport will far outweigh the heartbreak-or at least that's what my parents keep telling me. Still just once I'd like to be on the other side of that learning curve.</p><p></p><p>I have played on two excellent teams in my sophomore year and am looking forward to another season of success. Baseball may be my third-best sport but our baseball program under Coach Mack has been dominant in the CVL for years. With our two dominant pitchers returning and a host of veterans the season holds great promise.</p><p></p><p>I play center field and would probably be our third starting pitcher. I was a switch hitter and was right-handed and had some power which hadn't shown itself yet from the left side.</p><p></p><p>Baseball feels different from both football and basketball. It was somehow more relaxing and seemed at times to be almost a slow-motion game. But when the pitcher throws the ball the tension ramps up in a hurry.</p><p></p><p>We are the defending league champs and will have a bull's-eye on our backs as we head into the season. But this team has it all-power at the plate excellent starting pitching and the best coach in Iowa. I like the combination.</p>