Grain Valley News
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • Marketplace
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Best of Grain Valley
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member
  • Business Directory Submission Form
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • Marketplace
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Best of Grain Valley
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member
  • Business Directory Submission Form








​news

​Eagles Hang On For District Championship Against Marshall

5/22/2021

 
by John Unrein
 
​
     Grain Valley Eagles head baseball coach Brian Driskell turned to assistant coach Dom Giangrosso for a hug after the final out was recorded in the Class 5 District 7 Tournament on May 21st. The Eagles had just held on for a narrow hard fought 2-1 victory against the Marshall Owls. The players rushed the field from the dugout to form a dog pile between third base and the pitcher’s mound. The celebration continued with Driskell receiving a water shower from starting pitcher Cole Keller.
     Grain Valley had defeated Ruskin, Warrensburg, and Marshall to obtain a district crown for the first time since 2009. Activities Director Brandon Hart summoned the team to behind home plate at Raytown South stadium for a picture with the first place championship trophy. Media and parents waited their turn for pictures and handshakes with parents. Driskell could not contain his smile as he shared his postgame thoughts.
     “This is a fun experience as I have never been in this situation, it is overwhelming. For (Cole Keller) to go run in track sectionals this morning in multiple events and quality for state before coming here and emptying the tank on the mound. I was concerned around the third inning before he (Keller) reached down and put us in a position for us to have a chance at the end (of the game),” Driskell said.
     “I have never had a kid like Cole and some of our other leaders. It is fun to have for our team. Palecek came in and did a good job shutting the door (in relief). He is an example of what we have preached all year with the motto of ‘team over me.’ We had a senior verify that Joel should be on the mound when he responded to one of our coaches with, ‘Joel’s got this.’ Baseball becomes extremely fun with that going on.”
     Driskell continued, “There are not many situations where I enjoy getting my clothes wet before getting in a car, but this is one of them. That was welcomed for sure. I did tell Coach Alberson for Marshall that no one deserved to lose this game tonight. We faced one heck of a team tonight for sure. It meant a lot to get to share this moment with my team and Coach Giangrosso especially.”
     Keller’s busy day started early at the Class 5 Sectional 4 track meet. The senior would go on to qualify in the 400 meter dash and 4 x 400 meter relay for the MSHSAA Class 5 State Championships on May 27th. All of this took place before Keller hit the mound and would strikeout seven batters, surrender two hits and three walks, while only giving up one run across five and two-third innings.
     The key for Keller as a starting pitcher for the Eagles all season has been his mechanics. Something that is not uncommon for tall pitchers with long arms and legs to struggle with at times in consistently repeating their delivery. Keller started practicing his leg kick and foot placement during breaks at the sectional track meet. The attention to detail paid off for Keller as he knew he was right while warming up in the bullpen prior to the start of the game.
     “Getting this win tonight was everything. I love these dudes. The start of the fourth inning was surreal for me as I looked around,” Keller said.
     “I did not miss a spot in the bullpen warming up before the game. When that happened, I knew I was going to be on when I hit the mound.”
     Keller finished, “I am delighted for Coach Driskell to get this title. The dugout was full of energy and we did not back down tonight.”
     Keller would get to eighty-eight pitches on the mound and top out at eighty-six miles per hour on the radar gun before handing the baseball over to Driskell in the top of the sixth inning. Joel Palecek would be summoned to come in and finish the game for the Eagles. The junior went about his business as usual by throwing strikes and never changing his facial expression on the mound.
     Palecek would lean on his fastball to only allow one base hit and no runs across one and one-third innings of scoreless relief. Just as impressive was the bases loaded jam that Palecek worked out of in the top of the sixth inning to keep the win intact for Grain Valley.
     “I give all glory to God. I trust my teammates. I put faith in those two things and did my best. The way we competed tonight was great,” Palecek said.
     “Having the trust of my coaches and teammates means a lot to me.”
     Grain Valley improves to a record of 25-8 as they will next face the Smithville Warriors on May 29th in the quarterfinal round of the MSHSAA Class 5 state playoff.
Picture
The Grain Valley Eagles baseball team celebrates their Class 5 District 7 Championship. 
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Picture
Senior Cole Keller goes 5 and two-thirds innings on the mound for the Eagles.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Picture
First baseman Kaden Jeffries produces an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Picture

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Burton Kelso
    Business
    Cathy Allie
    Celebrations & Transitions
    Census
    City Of Grain Valley
    Columnists
    Community Profile
    Covid19
    Covid-19
    Economic-development
    Education
    Elections
    Financial-health
    Fitness
    Food Inspections
    Good News
    Good-news
    Grain-valley-assistance-council
    Grain Valley Fair
    Grain Valley Historical Society
    Grain-valley-partnership
    Grain Valley Schools
    Health And Fitness
    Health-and-fitness
    Home And Garden
    Jackson County
    Ld
    Local News
    Looking Back
    Lorne-meinershagen
    Missouri House Of Representatives
    Missouri Senate
    Musings From The Middle
    Neighborhood View
    On-the-job
    Pets
    Police Blotter
    Quick-news
    Rdn
    Recreation
    Sally-whitaker
    Seniors
    Senior-send-off
    Sports
    State Of Missouri
    Technology
    Tracey-shaffer
    Transportation
    University Of Missouri Extension
    Waynes-world

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

Grain Valley News

Grain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. 
(c) 2023 Grain Valley News

Contact Us

PO Box 2972
​Grain Valley MO 64029

Privacy Policy
Picture