WASHBURN — Peyton Raines slapped a single at Washburn High School on Thursday, then fist-bumped Cosby coach Travis Sane at first base.
It was a fitting image for Cosby’s final game of the season, as Sane bid farewell to his seniors after Eagles lost to Hancock County 9-4 in the District 2-A Tournament.
“I don’t know where to begin,” said Sane on Friday, referring to seniors Peyton Raines, Cyler Davis and Greycin Cobble. “They all three mean so much to me. We wouldn’t have made it as far as we did without them.
“They were great leaders through everything, from bad weather to not getting to play on our home field through the last few games. I owe this season to them.”
As far as the game itself, Cosby went up 1-0 in the top of the second inning — but Hancock quickly tied things in the bottom half.
The Indians tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the night, then added one more in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth inning.
Cosby got two back in the top of the sixth and one more in the top of the seventh, using timely hits and base running to chip away at the deficit.
But ultimately, the Indians came away with the win to end Cosby’s 2024 campaign.
Oaklon Cameron started the game but came out after one inning due to arm pain.
Senior Cyler Davis replaced him, and fittingly, Davis came through in the same way he did in football and basketball: with grit and poise.
“For the two years I’ve coached him, last night had to be the best game I’ve ever seen him play,” Sane said Friday. “I know everyone wants to go out with a win, but the game he played, he stepped up in a phenomenal way and did what needed to be done.”
As for Cosby, the Eagles struggled to put the ball in play.
“We hit it,” said Sane, “but every time we did, they would just move a couple inches and catch it.”
In the postgame huddle, Sane spoke to his returning players about next season.
He noted that he wants to see a culture change, starting with player accountability.
“Just taking how well we played last night and trying to build that into momentum next year,” he said. “And we want to come out and win the district next season.
“I want these guys to understand the culture change that’s happening, and I want people that want to play. That’s what it will start with.”
With that in mind, Sane said he spoke to Cosby athletic director Levi Cooper about the measures that will be taken to ensure that accountability takes place.
“Anytime you have an athletic director that’s got your back, that’s big,” Sane said. “We’ll roll with it and see how the cards lay out.”
As far as next year’s seniors go, Sane’s message was simple.
“They know how I want to do things, and they know the correct attitude we need to have,” he said. “I need them to step up in a big way fundamentally and be big-time leaders on this team to show these young ones what it takes to turn this thing around.”
But before looking too far, Sane took another step back to thank the seniors who walked off the field for the final time on Thursday night.
“Last night, giving this speech no coach wants to have to give, seeing them walk off, it makes you wonder if you did things right,” said Sane on Friday. “Hopefully I did. I told them I wish them the best, and know that my phone is always on and I’ll always be there for them. Hopefully they will continue to be successful in their plans for the future.”
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