The 2008 Shakamak Lakers baseball team exemplified the true meaning of working together as a unit. In the end, the hard work culminated into the school's first state championship.

Of the eight teams who competed last Saturday at Victory Field for the four class state titles, the Lakers were the only team that did not possess a plethora of hitters who had astronomical offensive numbers.

All season long, the Lakers have relied upon one another to pick each other up and not one player took it upon himself to win the game alone. Yes there were outstanding individual performances throughout the season that may have played a hand in winning a game, but every game was a team victory.

If one person made an error in the field, a teammate was there to make sure that play was put in the past and to move on. If a bunt was not successfully laid down, another teammate then executed or came up with a big hit.

During post game interviews, the "star" of the game could quickly be heard changing to topic from himself and inform reporters that it was a total team effort and he was only a small piece to the puzzle on that given night. That in itself is astonishing given that we are talking about 15-18 year olds.

Another act of unselfishness came from the underclassmen. When asked what it would mean to reach the state finals and possibly bring home a state title, a variety of different feelings and emotions were heard, but there was two main purposes.

They wanted to get back to Victory Field to give the seniors one last shot at a state championship and they also wanted to get there and win it for their fans. The seniors also wanted to win the championship for their fans that have stuck with them since pee-wee baseball and never doubted the team.

Coming into the season the Lakers had won sixth consecutive sectional championships, four straight regional crowns and two more semistate titles. Needless to say winning has become second nature to the baseball program. With that much success, it would be easy for any team to take winning for granted and just go through the motions each time taking the field.

From my perspective, I will have to admit that early on in the post season I had my doubts about whether or not the team could make a long tournament run.

Being away from the area for some time, I was one that thought -- with all the success in years past -- the Lakers would breeze through their local sectional, easing their way back to Victory Field. After struggling with a four-win White River Valley team in the first round of the sectional, then having to pull out wins against Clay City and North Central in their last at bat to survive what turned into a very competitive sectional, I came to realize this team did not possess the same swagger that a team with all the past success has had should have.

After slipping by a very good Vincennes Rivet team to claim their fifth straight regional title, I still wasn't convinced this team could pull it off. It was during our two-day stay for the semistate that I realized just what kind of team the Lakers had.

I noticed the team was very relaxed and nothing seemed to phase them. They had stared adversity down and won each and every battle that was in the way up to this point. And I may add, that not one person in the Lakers dugout bothered to flinch.

Some may say this is a sign of arrogance, but the team shown a great deal of confidence. Not just in themselves but one another, and just like that I noticed a swagger of a championship team.

During interviews leading up to their date at Victory Field, each player mentioned what an honor it was to wear the Columbia blue and white uniform with the name Shakamak on front. Not only where they representing their school and trying to make history, they were also playing for everyone in the stands and those who buttoned up the uniform in years past, laced up the cleats and stepped onto the field, to play America's favorite pastime.

Baseball is just a game, but when you have a group of individuals that respect the game and play it right it becomes, at least in this sports writer's opinion, the greatest game there is.

The Shakamak Lakers have made this season enjoyable and exciting to watch.

Congratulations on a great season to all 30 members of the team and to the Lakers faithful that is there each and every game. And a special congrats to Josh Horton, who deservedly won the mental attitude award.

Travis David is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World and can be reached at 812-847-4487 ext. 20 or at tdavid@gcdailyworld.com.