You can probably agree that it's hard to believe that we've reached the end of another school year. Well, sort of.
Seniors have either finished up their finals or are doing so this week. I guess that depends, in a weird sort of way, which school you attend.
Anyway, the rest of the students in our public schools have that dreaded wait until June 19 before they can claim Alice Cooper's never forgotten anthem, "School's Out for Summer".
In this past week or two, though, we did see the end of the high school athletic season, as well. And it was a bit a rough ending.
Bel Air was making its first ever appearance in the girls lacrosse state finals, and the Bobcats gave it a really strong and very respectable effort. The Bobcats came up short against a equally tough and talented Severna Park club, falling 18-15. It was Severna Park's 13th state crown.
I wasn't able to make it to that game, as one of those family high school senior events I am dealing with was scheduled for that same night.
A night later I was in attendance at the annual Al Cesky Scholarship Fund Banquet at the Richlin Ballroom. Again, not to cover it, but attend with stepdaughter, Annelise Beer, who was Havre de Grace's female nominee.
I saw and talked to many of the other nominees like Jake Nikkila of Patterson Mill, Shannon Conlon of Harford Tech and Dale Marx of Joppatowne. I've watched and written about those student-athletes and many more the past four years.
It was very nice event, honoring 24 deserving seniors and the legacy of Al Cesky. I offer my congratulations one more time to all honorees and their families.
My last official 2015 school athletic event to cover came last Friday evening in College Park. It was there that the C. Milton Wright Mustangs were trying to beat the Northern Calvert Patriots in the Class 3A softball final.
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Putting it as simply as I can, the Patriots have the Mustangs number. In fact, they have the number of a lot of teams when it comes to winning 3A state championships.
CMW lost in last year's state semifinal to Northern and in the 2010 state final. Northern, with its win last week, has won eight straight championships. Interestingly for me, it's only been in last year's final and then this year's that Northern even allowed any runs.
In CMW's most recent loss, the Mustangs couldn't have asked for a better start, but that's just it. It was a start, and we all know it's how you finish that counts.
The Mustangs hit the ball hard in that first inning that led to four runs. Despite several uncharacteristic errors by the Mustangs defense, CMW pitcher Morghan Fulton continued to keep Northern off the scoreboard.
What was telling, though, was Northern's hit total climbing to 12, while CMW, which had three hits in the first inning, didn't get another until Fulton's leadoff single in the sixth. The Mustangs finished with six hits.
The hit total was one of several reasons why Northern has won eight consecutive state titles. The Patriots don't fret, they don't quit and they know how to finish. No shame for the Mustangs, who may be equipped enough to make another run in 2016.
There are 78 days until fall sports practices begin, by the way.