Wildcats center fielder D.J. Peters signs baseballs for young fans a week ago Friday following WNC's final home game against College of Southern Nevada at John L. Harvey Field.
The record will show the Western Nevada College baseball team beat College of Southern Nevada 2-1 in the final game played at John L. Harvey Field.
But WNC baseball was about more than just records and what transpired at John L. Harvey Field Friday was a microcosm of all the memorable moments that have happened at the ballpark over the last 11 seasons. While WNC intercollegiate athletics is being discontinued after the 2016 season, Friday became more about celebrating the program more than focusing on the end.
And as Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” The Wildcats begin the postseason next week with the regional tournament to be hosted by CSN in Henderson. The Coyotes won the Scenic West Athletic Conference title to earn the right to host the tournament with WNC finishing second.
Still, there was the acceptance the program’s coming to an end.
“I’m sad. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad,” said D.J. Peters, who has signed with Cal State Fullerton and has developed into a top major league prospect with the Wildcats.
But Peters also was philosophical.
“Anything good in life has to come to an end,” he said.
And there’s still work to be done.
“I feel like it’s a new beginning on Monday in practice,” Peters said. If the tournament goes as expected, WNC would face CSN for the regional title for the right to advance to the district tournament where the regional winner would play for a berth in the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
“We’re probably going to see them again in the championship game,” said Peters about CSN. “I know we’ll be ready.”
Wildcat assistant coach Aaron Demosthenes also didn’t focus on the negative.
“Just knowing what this gave to me, a lot of joy,” said Demosthenes about being part of the program. “A lot of people are sad, but I’m just feeling joy. I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m just glad we ended it on a win.”
WNC assistant coach Ryan Gonzalez was just soaking everything in after the final game was played.
“This is a very special moment right now for this program,” he said.
He also said he was proud of “what (the program) brought to the community.” But about the program coming to an end, Gonzalez said, “It’s bittersweet.”
Peters came from Glendora, Calif., to play at WNC.
“The program has done a lot for me,” he said. “I’m glad that I came up here. I love it here. I love the city. I’m going to miss it. I’ve learned a lot here. I’m not going to forget what I’ve learned here. The program has meant everything to me. I’m very grateful.”
Galena High graduate Tim Lichty came to WNC to play baseball and also will go onto to play at the Division I level.
“I’ve probably had the best two years of my life since I’ve been here,” Lichty said.
“I feel like I’ve become a man. I feel like I’ve become a better person in general. It’s a shame they shutting it down but I’m glad I’ve been a part of it.”
Numerous alumni who played for WNC came to John L. Harvey Field Friday for the program’s final home games.
“Right now I’m just proud our alumni have spent the time and money to get here to share this moment with us,” WNC head coach D.J. Whittemore said.
Whittemore said he was focusing on a gathering at Red’s Old 395 Grill for a gathering with all the significant people, players and alumni associated with the program.
“Right now, I’m just looking forward to having fun tonight,” he said. “I’m blessed and cursed with the ability to focus on the next task. I don’t do a good job of reflecting.”
So when Whittemore talked about the realization that was going to hit him when he talked about waking up this morning, he wasn’t talking about the program’s end, but “we’re going to have to get past a lot of good teams to get to the next stop,” commenting on the regional tournament.