Chasing Zero
by
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It was quite a year, 1996. It would be tempting to write a book summarizing each player and coach and his contributions to the team, but the chapters that follow are a compilation of stories and memories from several players who were on the team.
As we approach twenty years since that season, I’m amazed at how it is sometimes little more than a distant memory. At other times, it seems like it was only yesterday. Baseball has become for me what it is to a lot of people--a game. While I still enjoy watching a game from time to time, it’s more of an outlet for me. I’m no longer enamored with it like I once was and like a lot of players on that New Hope team still are--only now as coaches and/or fathers.
What baseball and 1996 mean to me now are much deeper than a state championship. They are a metaphor for a much bigger game--the game of life. That year frames my perspective on winning and excellence. While I still strive to reach some level of achievement in my everyday life, 1996 remains a constant in how I approach it. For that, I am ever grateful.
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About the Book
“Whenever I hear someone mention the year 1996, I immediately think of that magical baseball season in which a special group of young men won forty-three consecutive baseball games. But it was so much more than just those forty-three games. It was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to both the game they loved and the teammates they competed with. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of their journey.”
—Tim Dowdy,
Former New Hope Baseball Coach
“The spring of ’96 was a magical time that I will never forget. It was a three-month period in which the stars aligned and took us on an unforgettable ride.”
—Carey Edwards,
Former New Hope Baseball player
“I went to my knees near the third base line as the ball began to get closer and closer to the ground. As a sixteen-year-old, all I could think about was how I had just let my team down. My name was going to be in the record books, the only pitcher with an L next to his name. Suddenly, my feet went numb as I stood up in disbelief. I saw what had just happened but didn’t believe it. I still have never seen another catch like that!”
—Scott Kappler,
Former New Hope Baseball Player
About the Author
The author played on the 1996 New Hope Baseball team. Although no longer involved with the game, his experiences were extremely valuable. He continues to pursue his interests with the same passion and desire for excellence that he and his teammates had for the game of baseball.