Emotions Run High As Douglas Battles Through Tough Season

At first glance, there are not going to be many people who are going to feel bad for a five-time state champion, who again is having a great year at 9-3 on the season.

To look deeper, however, shows just how resilient these Eagles have been in the face of adversity that some teams never face.

The Eagles are led by multiple Hall Of Fame induction manager Todd Fitz-Gerald. This season, Fitz-Gerald and the Eagles family have been battling through a Brain Cancer diagnosis back in the Fall to Fitz-Gerald’s wife, Colleen.

The team has spent many days praying, and using their national prominence to help their coach through this difficult time. Douglas alumni, such as Phillies star pitcher Jesus Luzardo, have come back to lend a hand, and the entire community has banded together in support of the Eagles and their manager.

So when games like Tuesday night happen, a 5-1 win over True North, the casual fan shrugs and says it is just another win by a team that has been dominant over the past half-decade.

But for Fitz-Gerald, nights like Tuesday have become coping mechanisms.

“These kids have gotten thrown for a loop this year,” said Fitz-Gerald. “With everything going on, coach is not there a lot of times, so they’ve been kind of turned upside down. I appreciate their resilience. They are trying, and fighting hard every day.”

Fighting hard every day, is a term that, not only the team has embraced, but Fitz-Gerald and his family as well, specifically Colleen, who is battling every day.

And yet still, with all the adversity, Fitz-Gerald finds some time to keep the focus on the teams’ on-field performance, as he feels the players deserve.

“We are not the same team we have been, obviously,” said Fitz-Gerald. “We have been struggling to score runs. The pitching has done a great job of keeping us in games, and the offense is finding ways to score.”

On Tuesday those runs came courtesy of a few early walks, some stolen bases, and timely hitting. The Eagles scratched out two runs in the second, and then a run each in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.

That was more than enough for the pitching staff. Carter McGuinn started the game for Douglas, and went 3.1 innings, giving up only one hit, while striking out five. Jacob Hayes worked the next 1.2, allowing one hit and one earned run. Reid Dadic then did what he has done all year, coming in and closing out the game with two shutout innings.

“This hasn’t been an ideal season in terms of how we have become used to operating,” said Fitz-Gerald. “But that also is what has made each of these teams different over the past few years. This team is dealing with some things that others haven’t had to, and at the end of the day, we are still 9-3.”

The Eagles face Miller School from Virginia Wednesday, and then have a huge clash with Miami #1 Doral on Thursday. The Firebirds lost their first game of the season Tuesday, so will be fully focused when the Eagles come to town.

“Hopefully we can finish off the week on a good note, and then get ready to go to Las Vegas on our Spring Break trip,” said Fitz-Gerald.

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