And Max Miller, where are you at?

Max, would you come up to the podium and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance this morning, please?

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the black of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, let's begin.

Commissioner Gable, go ahead.

Well, it's a privilege.

Thank all of you men for coming today to have you here to be recognized for your great accomplishments.

In this crazy world, we're in the wholesomeness and the celebration of the great effort that you put forward is going to bring lifelong memories, and it's something very positive and wholesome for not just you, but for this entire community.

So with that in mind, uh we'll probably have uh Coach Wilderman bring your team up in front and the other dignitaries come up here and we'll introduce you to the to the people here to make it official.

So you guys have to stand, follow your leader.

Oh, you don't want memorial going.

Uh first off, I want to thank you guys for having us out.

Um, it is an honor to be here and to recognize the special group.

Um we had a really fun season, and um it was an honor to represent such a great community.

So I want to thank you guys for having us come out.

Do you want to recognize some of the players that are here today and some of the coaches as well?

Um, first we have Derek Branson, Jacob Caldemeyer, Dylan Murphy, Will Hoffman, Cam Stratman, Kyle Katowitz, Jackson Schaefer, Spencer Schiff, Cole Breden, and Max Miller.

Um, coaches that are here there are Andy Hoffman and Kevin Pennington, Athletic Director Sam Fleming, and President Deacon Dan Neyer.

So want to thank you guys for having us come out.

Um, we really do appreciate all the support.

Thanks, Coach.

Hey, coach coach, while everybody's up here, commissioners, you want to get a picture real quick with them?

While they're quick?

Yeah.

You guys want to squish in a little bit more, we can get a picture.

Latter day grad, earned memorial.

And very game back here, just great board record memorial.

So I'm in enemy territory, just about every day.

All right, one, two, three.

Yep.

So again, uh, gentlemen, thank you.

Thank you for representing our community and congratulations.

Today we have uh here in the state of Indiana in Vanderburgh County, a proclamation declaring Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 as modern day baseball state championship day in Vanderburg County, Indiana.

Whereas the modern-day high school Wildcats baseball team demonstrated exceptional dedication, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork throughout the 2026 baseball season, and whereas the Wildcats represented Vandenberg County with integrity, sportsmanship, and excellence, inspiring young athletes throughout our community to pursue their goals through determination, character, and teamwork.

And whereas on June 20th, 2026, the Wildcats captured the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Class 2A State Championship, bringing home the school's first baseball state title since 1999.

And whereas whereas the Wildcats completed the 2026 season with a 31 and 3 record and a share of the SIEC title.

And whereas the Wildcats concluded their championship season winning 18 consecutive games, and whereas the Wildcats earned the school's second state title after either trailing or going extra innings to capture five of their seven state tournament games.

And whereas the Wildcats were down to their final strike and their final out in their final inning before scoring and then capturing the state title over Bluffton in extra innings.

Whereas the Vanderburg County Board of Commissioners wishes to recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the Modern Day High School baseball team and the pride they brought to our county.

Now therefore be a proclaimed that the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaim Tuesday, July 14, 2026 as Modern Day Baseball State Championship Day in Vandenberg County, Indiana.

Encourage all citizens to join and current congratulating the players, coaches, faculty, staff, families, and supporters of Modern Day High School for this extraordinary achievement and for representing our community with X excellence both on and off the field.

Congratulations.

Yeah, congratulator.

A couple other comments.

I think obviously what you have done and the way you had done it, the confidence you showed, and the uh extraordinary efforts that it took.

And it probably was one of the most exciting state tournaments in the history of Indiana because of the number of games that went to extra innings, the number of games that were not decided until you guys decided to decide the end the the results.

The fact that you followed your coaches, uh, you're very talented group, there's no question.

But you have to have leadership and guys that get led the way, and the coaches did a great job.

Sam Fleming from the athletic office is here, and he also showed that leadership.

And of course, Deacon Dan Neyer, if uh you want to follow someone in the right direction, get behind him.

Uh Dan has been very busy with excavating, driving bulldozers.

If any of you have been around modern day high school in recent days, you can't hardly find the school any longer.

There's so much work going on.

And that's all tribute to Dan for the funds that he's raised and the uh improvements that are gonna be made.

But I did want to, I know all of you are great students of history, and you don't stop studying, and you I know you probably have your books open right now, getting ready for next semester, you guys that are coming back, but there is a little bit of a history lesson here too.

Uh principal Darren Neem, uh Darren Knight could not make it.

He's in a meeting, but Darren Knight was the head coach of the very first modern day baseball state championship team in 1999, and he's with you on the field receiving the the gold medal uh after you won your tournament, so that was kind of fitting.

Um I think one of the classic uh examples of history repeating itself, Max Miller, the player of the year for the SIEC and uh a great hitter, what 479 you batted.