Story behind the story: 'Weighting' to see what's next

Teams are defined by the sum of their parts.Brayden Coleman became the walking definition of what a quality teammate means to a group’s overall success.We don’t normally highlight game stories in this special section, but I’m trying to be more spontaneous. Nobody knows a game’s outcome before they arrive, unless you own a DeLorean with a flux capacitor, and the same goes for sports writers. We don’t know the story’s narrative until after it’s played.After a pair of innings, it became evident what the latest story would be during a spring visit to Addington Field last May.Not everyone can be the star player, and for most of us, the chance to make even the slightest impact comes few and far between.Some players rarely hear their name called in a big moment, and when they do, the margin for error is smaller than for those who see the field regularly.Coleman recorded just eight innings on the mound through the first 26 games on the Boyd County schedule. Finding a spot in the Lions’ deep pitching staff was even harder when no one had a losing record and aces Brayden Nunley and Grant Slater hadn’t lost a game all year.After multiple injuries, coach Frank Conley still had a dependable pitcher to turn to against one of the region’s best teams, one that had already been celebrated on senior day.I watched as Coleman confidently took the bump against Raceland and pitched four solid innings, posting the same number of punchouts he had accumulated to that point in the season. He struck out seven and allowed just two hits to pick up the victory.Heck, Coleman went 4-1 last season and proved he wasn’t just taking up a spot in the rotation. He did collect 76 at-bats but stayed ready to take the mound if needed.Of course, the performance warranted a post-game interview. During our conversation, his teammates showed the same support Coleman gives them, but in true baseball fashion, they congratulated him by draping dugout items on him wherever they could find a spot. By the end of the interview, the dugout was bare, but it also showed the benefits of team sports. Players enjoy celebrating their teammates’ successes more than their own.Stats are interesting, but they never tell the whole story. The game within the game spins a more intriguing tale, and it was more evident throughout Boyd County’s run to the state championship game.CJ Smith had only six at-bats leading up to the postseason, but with the Lions’ injuries, he seized the chance to hit a pivotal base-clearing double in the 64th District final.Jace Manning, who transferred from a small school, found himself starting two state tournament games a season later, including the state final at the University of Kentucky’s home field.Making the most of your moment will always carry more weight.