Yesterday, I went to State College not for Penn State (for once) but, rather, a local team making its first state championship baseball game appearance. West York, who had lost the district semifinal football game last fall to Lampeter-Strasburg, was facing them again — this time, for the state title in baseball.
Sure enough, the West York Bulldogs delivered their comeuppance in a 9-6 victory over the L-S Pioneers.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York’s Brock Gladfelter hoists the state championship trophy toward West York fans after defeating Lampeter-Strasburg to win the school’s first-ever state championship in baseball on Friday, June 15, 2012, at Penn State in State College.
As the only photographer sent to the game, I was responsible for two section fronts, a slideshow’s worth of photos, a video and, of course, a bit of social media as well. After some pre-trip brainstorming with editor Brad and fellow photographer Jason, I walked into the stadium three hours before West York and L-S took the field, and started working right away: I explored the stadium, found the team and didn’t stop until after the game was over.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York’s first baseman Brandon Kinneman kneels in prayer during batting practice at Medlar Field before playing the state championship game against Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday, June 15, 2012. Kinneman’s grandmother Maryland Slonaker passed away on Wednesday, June 13, and a post-victory huddle was held in the outfield in memory of Slonaker and others close to the West York team.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York pitcher Kaden Hepler stretches with a band before playing the state championship game against Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday, June 15, 2012.
The game itself wasn’t my best in terms of shooting for action. Unlike any other high school baseball game or even any Revs game, I was pretty limited in my mobility by the officials as well as by the geography of the dugouts. But, as reporter John assured me, state championship games are all about emotion — and I did get plenty of that.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York’s Brandon Kinneman celebrates in a dogpile among his fellow players and coaching staff after defeating Lampeter-Strasburg 9-6 for the school’s first-ever state championship.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York head baseball coach Roger Czerwinski leads the team and staff in a moment of silence in the outfield in memory of family members and close friends of the team who have passed recently, before greeting West York fans after defeating Lampeter-Strasburg to win the school’s first-ever state championship in baseball on Friday, June 15, 2012, at Penn State in State College.
For my video — thanks to Jason’s suggestion — I focused on the starting pitcher, Kaden Hepler, who ended up pitching 23 of 26 innings in West York’s state playoff games:
Check out a slideshow of more photos, too.
Words and Light 
Great work last night…we saw you running around all over the place!
Hey thanks! Gotta hustle when you’re covering the state title game.
[…] celebration didn’t end with the Bulldogs’ infield pile-up after they clinched their first-ever state championship win. © 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York baseball players Brandon Kinneman, Kaden […]
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