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Sunnyvale celebrates history-making season, looks forward to bright future
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
As Brock first baseman Tyler Nelson fielded a ground ball and stepped on the bag for the final out in its 3-2 win over Sunnyvale last Thursday, the Raider players could hardly believe their season had come to an end.
Sunnyvale had given No. 1 Brock all it wanted for seven innings, but came up just short of its first trip to the state tournament as it fell in the Class 2A Region II final at Fort Worth Southwest Christian Preparatory High School in Benbrook.
But the disappointment the Sunnyvale team felt Thursday night, which surely still lingers this week, will hopefully turn into a sense of accomplishment as time passes.
Sunnyvale head coach Tim Arden summed it up after the game, telling his team "they are the best group I have ever had."
This year's senior class has been a special one for the Raiders, with a quartet that has helped shape the program since it started varsity play in 2009.
Zach Metzger, Will Moss and Conner Nash have been four-year contributors. Mason Goodin moved to Sunnyvale as a sophomore and has been a three-year starter.
That quartet helped the Raiders finish with a winning record in their first varsity season. The following year, Sunnyvale advanced four rounds deep before falling in the regional semifinals.
Last season, the Raiders battled through injuries to still make the area finals.
And in their senior campaign, they saved the best for last, putting together the most successful season in school history.
"They've been rocks for us," Arden said. "They have been a big part of this since our first varsity year. They are the guys that our younger players look up to and I couldn't ask for better role models."
What that group, as well as the rest of the Sunnyvale players, has been able to do is put the program on the map. With three consecutive playoff appearances, including a pair of extended runs, the Raiders have sent a message that they will be a team to be reckoned with now and in the future.
"I hope that is the case," Arden said. "That is what we want to be is one of those teams like a Brock where every year other teams know they have to go through you to get to where they want to be."
There will certainly be holes to fill with the graduation of four seniors, but Sunnyvale has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about next year.
Wilcox will return as one of the staff aces and should only improve during the offseason. Shortstop Brock Taylor will also be back and if fully healthy, can step into another starter's spot.
Joey Rosato started as a freshman and should be able to step into the leadoff role, while Ryan Cottingame, Wesley Phillips and Devin DeLeon are other returning starters who will hope to build on the foundation that has been laid.
"Losing guys to graduation is always tough, especially this group we have this year, they will be hard to replace," Arden said. "But we had a lot of young guys that played big innings in the playoffs and they will be better for it next year.
"Our expectations aren't going to change and that is that we want to end up in Round Rock, but that is only going to come through hard work."
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