Win dedicated to Bringelson

Kenny Bringelson

The Thousand Oaks Lancers dedicated their season to senior catcher Kenny Bringelson, who was unable to play this season because of medical reasons.

"Emotionally, I felt like I was there all the time," Bringelson said after T.O. won the CIF championship at Edison Field last Saturday. "I wish I was out there on the field when we won it, so I could run out to the mound, but it was good enough watching from the bench."

Rod Stillwell, the Lancer head coach, always wrote and circled the initials KB on the bottom of the lineup card he kept in the dugout during each game. Both he and star shortstop Chad Lundahl said Bringelson inspired Thousand Oaks this season.

"Kenny has been an inspiration," Stillwell said. "He’s been coming out and helping our kids realize and never take for granted what you have as far as your health and the ability to go out and play baseball. His words and his appearances that he made to the field during games and at practices provided that little extra incentive that we needed to go all the way this year."

Lundahl agreed that it put things in perspective for the Lancer players and that they dedicated the championship season to Bringelson.

"It’s something that everybody needs to sit back and look at that still can play," Lundahl said. "To realize how special it is to play baseball. We wanted to do this for him and let him know how happy we are for him. We wish him the best of luck and know he’ll be successful at whatever he does in the future."

There were 11 seniors on the Lancer roster this season. Bringelson said winning the CIF championship was a goal of those seniors all throughout high school.

"Ever since we were freshmen we were told that we were going to win the whole thing," said Bringelson. "This was our big goal. It feels awesome to be here. It’s unbelievable."

––Wayne Harrison