To say Plano East Senior High varsity baseball players are competitive would be a gross understatement. But they are just as compassionate as they are competitive.
PESH Baseball coach Michael Martinez talks to varsity baseball players
The baseball players recently teamed up to play a game of basketball against the Plano East Panther Pride Special Olympics team in the Plano East gym. My cheeks literally hurt from smiling non-stop for several hours.
Panther Pride Special Olympics player Tyler Chandler (third from right-back row) photobombs the PESH varsity baseball team photo with (L-R: Back Row) Coach Michael Martinez, Sam Alvey, Andrew Mills, Brayden Stroud, Corey Farmer, Brandon Stanton and Carter Frederick. Front row: Cade Johnson, Jake Rudkin, Roshan Damodaran, and Marshall Brown
The baseball players ran up and down the court feverishly, but they did everything they could to help the Panther Pride score. But they did so discreetly to preserve the other team’s dignity. When the Panther Pride team would score, baseball team players would whoop and cheer and high-five the opposing players. The final score was 105 Panther Pride – 47 PESH Baseball. But the true score was win-win.
“Only a few of the individuals on this team have competed in basketball before this season,” said Anthony Ruttenburg, Panther Pride Coach and Head of the Special Olympics delegation. “I have taken them to State Games in Arlington for the past three years where they won gold and silver in individual skill tournaments. The program was started by Plano East teacher Tommy Guynes in 2010. Since becoming the Head of Delegation in 2014, I’ve tried to showcase them so they can receive the same attention the other sports clubs in the district have. We’ve given them letterman jackets, trophies, and awards for their accomplishments. For the past three years I have held an event in April for Autism Awareness entitled ‘Light it up & Back the Blue,’ where our Panther Pride Basketball team plays the Murphy and Plano Police Departments.”
The Panther Pride team has games scheduled for January 11, 25; February 8, 22; March 8, 29; April 7, 19; and May 10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a 7 p.m. tipoff, except Saturday, April 7 for the Light it Up & Back the Blue Autism Awareness game, which will be noon – 3 p.m. Follow the Plano East Panther Pride team on Twitter: @PESH_Pride
“Our players enjoyed this opportunity to interact with the Panther Pride and have fun with them,” said Jordan Byrd, Plano East Baseball Head Coach. “They enjoyed the friendly competition and the chance to see the Panther Pride get after it! My players enjoyed the chance to help with teamwork, establish new friendships, and give these young people a sense of belonging, confidence, and accomplishment. We really appreciated that the community out in such strong support of the Panther Pride. Mr. Ruttenburg does an outstanding job leading this team and these kids. It was fun to see the cheerleaders perform and everyone get on the floor at halftime and dance with the Panther Pride.”
“Our players are not only good athletes,” said Coach Byrd. “They continue to show themselves as outstanding young men who care about their community. They’ve served at area elementary schools by opening car doors for elementary students, reading to kindergarten and first graders, and helping teachers in classrooms. They‘ve visited Murphy and Plano police and fire departments to thank them for their service. Our baseball program is about more than creating faster and stronger players. We’re shaping leaders for the future.”
The Plano East Baseball program is under the direction of head coach Jordan Byrd, assistant varsity coach Scott Castleman, junior varsity head coach Michael Martinez, assistant junior varsity coach John Lubow, McMillen head coach Cole McLean, McMillen assistant coach Ryan Henderson, Williams head coach Shane Kesler and Williams assistant coach Jonathan Gill. For more information, go to planoeastbaseball.com
