Regardless of what sport you play there is always someone that is considered to be the last player on the team. Hank Jones was faced with a dilemma a couple of weeks ago when it was time to turn in his official roster for Legion Post 58 playoff run. Jones had 19 players but only 18 can play after the official date to turn in the roster.
There are many reasons why you have too many early in the season with injuries topping the list. This year with Tyler Clark joining the team late in the regular season this presented Jones with the unenviable task of having to make a cut in his roster on June twenty third.
The hammer fell on Grant Stalling. If there is one thing in life that is hard to do is to fire people on their job and to tell a ball player his season is over. Once hearing from Jones, Stallings asked if he could continue to travel with the team and continue being the bull pen catcher which is what he had be relegated to during the season as his playing time dwindled.
The important double header in Edenton which Post 58 wrapped up first place with a sweep Stallings was right there in the bull pen with his teammates.
The following Monday night which was the last regular season game and with first place in hand Hank Jones decided to play Grant Stallings as a reward for his "being a team player". Wayne County beat Post 58 3-2 but even if Post 58 had of won they would have had to forfeit because Stallings was no longer on the roster. Stallings responded collecting two hits in his reward game from Hank Jones.
Whether they finished 16-4 or 15-5 is irrelevent to this story. Grant Stalling took his bad news and and made the most of it. What he got in return was respect from his coach.
Monday night during the opening line ups Grant Stalling was announce as Bull Pen coach. He received glad hands from all along the third base line his teammates and coaches.
Grant Stallings has proved to be the best teammate of all.
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