By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
During the Aug. 3 Alliance City Council meeting, council issued a proclamation in recognition of the Box Butte Bad Boys (10 - under) baseball team as state champions.
The proclamation read as follows:
WHEREAS the Box Butte Bad Boys of Alliance, Nebraska have dedicated themselves to continual improvement over the last year; and
WHEREAS the Bad Boy Baseball Team improved from a 2-2 record at the state tournament in 2020 to a 4-0 record in the 2021 tournament, thus claiming the title of State Champions; and
WHEREAS winning the state title was a fitting end to a 21-9 regular season record; and
WHEREAS the 2021 Box Butte Bad Boys went 2-2 at the North Platte Flat Rock Classic, 3-1 at the Kyle Nelsen Memorial Tournament, 5-0 at the Sidney Wood Bat Tournament, 1-3 at the Scottsbluff Father’s Day Tournament and 1-3 at Regionals in Minot, North Dakota; and
WHEREAS by working together toward a common goal, committing to working on daily improvement, becoming better little by little each day and growing together as a team and as a family; and
WHEREAS this highly successful season was the result of countless hours of practice and sacrifice by these young men, their parents and their coaches, all going above and beyond by practicing throughout the winter of 2020-2021 and becoming a travelling squad; and
WHEREAS the Box Butte Bad Boys have made Alliance proud, not only by winning, but by showing the dedication, determination and perseverance necessary to become State Champions, thus demonstrating some of the greatest strengths of this community and, more importantly, by weaving those values into the character of these young men through a sport which is loved by young and old alike - values which will serve them for the rest of their lives and make the communities in which they live stronger because of their character; and
WHEREAS the City Council of the City of Alliance does hereby wish to congratulate and honor the 2021 State Champion (10-Under) Box Butte Bad Boys Baseball Team players, coaches, parents and fans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Dafney, Mayor of the City of Alliance, on behalf of the Alliance City Council do hereby express our congratulations and do proclaim Sunday, August 15, 2021 as: “BOX BUTTE BAD BOYS DAY”
AND I urge all citizens to join me in honoring this group for their efforts.
NOW LET IT BE RESOLVED that a copy of this proclamation be spread upon the official minute books of the City of Alliance as a lasting testament for the appreciation and affection the community has for the 2021 State Champion (10-Under) Box Butte Bad Boys Baseball Team.
A couple of the baseball coaches were in attendance during the meeting.
"Thank you for having us come here and letting us be known," Bad Boys baseball coach Chris Jensen said. "Without the help of my coaches and parents we wouldn't be here. These kids are like family to us and me. They deserve every moment of it. They put in their hard work and we're going to start right back at it in October. We're going to go for another title and hopefully we can get down to the world series one day, that's our goal."