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Falcons Pumped and Ready for Happy Valley

Salisbury's baseball heroes get a rousing send-off as they head to state championship game Friday.

With the blaring sounds of fire engines, party horns and chants of "We got the judge!," , the Falcons, headed out by bus this morning to the state finals game against Riverside at Penn State. Dozens of excited families and fans in the community turned out to wish the team well on their historic quest to win the state championship.

The Falcons are the third Salisbury sports team to win a District 11 2A championship this school year, but they are the first team in the school’s history to go on to state finals.

“This is history, you know,” said Ariel Velez, Jr., whose son is outfielder Adrian Velez, #21. “We have a good chance to win this game and we’re very excited. Let’s go Falcons! This is something new. It’s never happened before. It’s a dream come true for these kids. It only happens once in a million.

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"The kids don’t seem nervous, so we’ll see. They’ve been doing well, so let’s hope the kids bring this home for the Lehigh Valley. It’s for the whole community.”

For head coach Mike Pochron, the pep rally helped set the tone for the day for his team.

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“We’re going to the first state championship game in the school’s history,” Pochron said. “I feel good. This is a great opportunity for the school and for the community. We’re getting a great send-off here. This is outstanding, and hopefully, we’ll come back with the trophy. We’re very confident.”

Team members were also confident and ready to win for their school.

“I’m really excited for this,” said left fielder Ramon Deeb, #22. “We’re all pumped right now. We’re stoked to get there. We’re going to get there early so we can watch the first game and relax and when we take the field, hopefully we’re going to win it.”

For Roxanne Stoudt, whose son James Stoudt is on the team, that is a done deal.

“I am super excited,” she said. “They’re bringing home the gold, no doubt about it. We got this one.”

In a short speech to the crowd, Monica Deeb, director of student activities, laughed when she realized she had called the Falcons 2001 champs instead of 2011.

 “This is a very exciting day for Salisbury School District,” Deeb said. “These fine young men are heading to Penn State for the first state title in the school’s history. This means the world to everybody here. They couldn’t have done this without all of you, so wish them well.”

Bob Gross, superintendent of Salisbury School District, was elated to be at the morning rally.

“What these fellows on the baseball team have done this year is absolutely wonderful,” Gross said. “They’ve overcome adversity, they kept pushing and pushing and one out at a time and now we’re going to states. This is the first time we’re going for the gold.”

He expressed regret that he couldn’t make the game. “ But my heart and soul will be with them. And I’ll be texting and Tweeting with Monica [Deeb] all evening.”

Also traveling on the team bus to Penn State will be Falcons regular bus driver Ron Genicola. For this ride, though, he will be a passenger and not the driver. As he entered the bus, the crowd broke out in a chant of “Bus driver Ron! Bus driver Ron!”

“The team worked hard,” Genicola said. “I’m real proud of them. So we’re gonna go out and do the best we can. This is a wonderful bunch of kids.”

Doris Harper, whose grandson Zach Harper, will be pitching for the Falcons today, wiped away a tear as she watched the entourage leave for Penn State.

“It makes you just want to sit down somewhere and cry,” she said. “I’m so happy for him. The team is just like one big, closely knit family. They’re so deserving, each and every one of them.”

Students, families and baseball fans continued the camaraderie as they boarded special buses to take them to the game at Penn State.

Stay tuned to Patch for further updates throughout the day.

 

 

 

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