Lifelong Friends end time together playing for Champaign Recruits

Here is a story of four newly graduated boys (’19) from Mahomet Seymour High School, that have been friends since their days in pee-wee football, basketball, soccer and baseball.  Ben Greenberger, Kyle Kinney, Jordan Veldman & Dawson Finch have been competing and or teammates for the last 11-12 years.

These life long friends had all decided early this past school year, to play one more travel baseball season together. They, along with fellow HS teammate John Latham, just finished up that summer baseball season. A very successful one for the Champaign Recruits.

On Sunday, July 28th  they spent their last day on the field together. One last successful weekend of memories (playoff Sunday), with the guys you consider your brothers. It was an extremely emotional time for sure, an end of an era.

Baseball, like that in the movie, “Sandlot”,  brought them together. These multi-sport athletes/friends all had success individually in each sport, all the way through the HS level. But baseball and their passion for it is what they worked on endlessly and focused on every summer and for so many great seasons.

Even off the field, always hanging out, always talking sports. Many, many memories were made each year as teammates with the Mahomet Diamond Dogs Organization from years of  9U-15U (2010-16). They built a special bond and a winning tradition within ‘their’ team. It all culminated into a 44-5-2 record during their 14U season. Winning 5 of 6 tournaments that summer (3^rd place in the other, with one rained out). A dream season that they will never forget.

Their high school years were spent playing for Coach Difilippo’s varsity baseball team, three of the four starting since their Sophomore year. Pretty successful varsity squads as a result of their hard work and their bond as brothers and teammates. Role models to the other players.

So the boys decided, ‘one last time, let’s play for the Recruits. The four of them (five, including Latham) were main contributors/starters on this summer team. All five, hitting between .333-.400. Top two pitchers on the team: Finch 5-0-1 and Greenberger 4-2, both with sub 1.50 ERAs. They played their last 6 summer tournaments together: one 1st place ; two final fours; only one tournament below .500. What a way to go out. Success as a group, like always. Inseparable on and off the field. Memories to last a lifetime.

Kinney (Kankakee Comm. Coll) & Veldman (Olivet Nazerene Univ) are going on to play at the collegiate level (Latham headed to DACC as well). Finch (Parkland/U of I) and Greenberger (Univ of Missouri) straight toward degrees.

Wow, so proud of the men these boys have become. Men of integrity and hard work. Many great accomplishments, on the field and in the classroom. They made a positive impact in their school, just ask their coaches and teachers.

I can say this, as their coach, all those years. I consider each of them, as a son. My love and prayers will always be over them, to succeed in all aspects of life. For me and I’m sure for them, this has been a ‘ride of a lifetime’. We’ll never forget and they will always have that special bond, as brothers, as best friends. (Shout out to Jack McHale, Dylan Gates and Ricky Bohlen, all a big part of that successful Diamond Dog team).

Story from coach and dad, Dirk Veldman.