It was two small words that sent Todd Beamer baseball on an unforgettable postseason chase.
During the Todd Beamer baseball season opener against Curtis, Titan seniors like Cory Jex, Cameron Naden and Tyler Carrol offered words of support to underclassmen when things didn’t go their way. Those moments became reoccurring, and then became a permanent hashtag on Twitter.
#FamilyFirst became Beamer’s identity.
The buy-in from coaches and players led the Titans to a playoff berth, and a win over Camas last Saturday allowed them to continue with an elimination game against Emerald Ridge, Tuesday. Timely hitting, however, gave the Jaguars a 3-2 win at Bellarmine Prep.
The loss ended the Titans’ remarkable season, but, for Beamer coach Shane Elliott, the examples players set and memories created through “Family First” will long outlast the sting of defeat.
“Every day, I’ve woken up and looked forward to 2:30 practice,” Elliott said. “[I] couldn’t have asked for anything more. I love this group — nothing but pride for these 17 guys that helped get us here.”
The ideology behind “Family First” may have started with simple words of encouragement, but its simplicity produced immediate results. It helped lead the Titans to a 12-win season, five more than in 2015-16.
And it helped Beamer (12-8) get to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
The “Family First” mantra came to life during the Titans’ season opener on March 17. Although they won, there were lessons to be learned from the 2-0 victory.
Because it was the season opener, not everyone played, not everyone fielded the role they thought they would, and some hitters, like Tommy Davis and Jared Thompson, finished the afternoon hitless. All the minute misfortunes taught the players valuable lessons, however.
“Family first is about being on the field, really,” Beamer senior infielder Cory Jex recalled. “It’s about making sure upperclassmen are picking up teammates when something doesn’t go their way or they’re moved to a reserve spot after starting. It’s about putting the team’s success before our individual goals.”
The Titans’ phrase was put to the test when they were trailing 1-0 in the second inning of Tuesday’s game.
After Thompson and Ayden Adams singled to open the second, leadoff hitter Tate Wallat picked up his teammates with a deep double to center field.
The hit gave Beamer the 2-1 lead, but Emerald Ridge stormed right back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning.
Beamer’s idea of “Family First” isn’t just about plate appearances, though. During the course of the season, Elliott wanted his team to realize “Family First” is more of a culture, the team’s own personality of sorts.
With the Titans down 3-2 in the fourth inning, a reminder didn’t hurt.
“You fight for each other as a family,” Elliott said. “You love each other up four or down four.”
Despite the message, the Titans were held to just one hit in the final three innings, closing the curtain on their season.
After his final game wearing a Beamer uniform, Jex couldn’t help but crack a small, but visible, smile.
He thought back to that first game nearly two full months ago. He thought about those early moments that helped make “Family First” what it became.
Jex paused.
Then he realized that maybe, “Family First” wasn’t developed at all — perhaps the family ties were there all along.
“There’s just a brotherhood here,” Jex said. “We were able to work together immediately. No one worried about themselves. It was always about the guy next to you. You can’t build that. That’s natural chemistry.”
Federal Way Eagles
The Federal Way Eagles lost 6-0 to Kennedy Catholic on Tuesday in their West Central District game at Art Wright Field.
With a chance to clinch a state berth through the consolation bracket, the Eagles fell 12-1 to the Tahoma Bears on May 10.
The loss brings an end to Federal Way’s season after 17 wins and clinching a North Puget Sound League title.
