The San Saba Armadillos ended a great 2008 season this past Saturday at Brownwood, playing in the Regional Championship for the first time in school history. The Dillos faced a familiar foe in Grape Creek, the District 6-2A champion.

On Thursday, the game was played at Foster Field in San Angelo. It was a great scene for high school baseball in front of a reported 3,000 people. The game was a pitcher's duel with the two top pitchers in the area, Blake Lewis and Landon McCall. McCall and the Eagles proved to be too much, beating us 9-3 and going up 1-0 in the series.

On Friday, seven Dillo baseball players graduated. It was nice to see all their academic honors and achievements being recognized.

Saturday, with our backs against the wall, the Dillos traveled to Brownwood to finish the series and earn a trip to the state baseball tournament. Well aware that we needed to win two games, the Dillos and our huge fan base were ready and beat Grape Creek 14-4, to set up a one game winner- take-all Championship game.

In game 3, we were beat after playing as hard as we could play with a great amount of class. It was not how we wanted the day to end, but it was not to be for us in this final game. My hat goes off to Grape Creek and I wish them the best at the State Tournament.

I am so proud of our young men. They gave us all a shot in the arm, and made all of us so proud. The '08 Dillos set records the last month, went 26-12 on the year, and won four playoff series. More importantly, I feel they did a lot for the school and the community. I also feel the school and community did so much for us all year, and throughout the playoffs.

I would like to thank everybody that went to a baseball game and cheered these young men on. I would like to thank the school administration for allowing us to do everything right and exactly like you are supposed to do it. Coach Johnson, Mr. Underwood, and Mrs. Glaze are awesome.

I would like to thank Mrs. Womack for all her support and help. The cheerleaders were a big hit at all our playoff games. Thanks go to Mrs. Womack and Coach Bowden for the pep rallies and send-offs. Thank you, Mrs. Dyer, for all your help with the paperwork, programs and being a big fan. Mrs. Johnson deserves a big "Thank You" for helping me with plans and organizing the playoff t-shirts, and being a big fan.

I would like to thank the parents for allowing us to work with their kids. The senior parents are as good as I have been around. I again must say that I really am proud of all the players and wish the seniors a great future. These guys will be receiving many post-season awards in the weeks to come.

I would like to close by thanking my wife, my son and my daughter, the best fans I have. See ya at Rogan.