Blake Dable’s athletic career prepared him to adapt.
“By being an athlete, I have learned to always work hard and go through the adversity that sports present to you,” he said. “As an athlete you can learn a lot about yourself and others. One of the biggest things that being an athlete can teach you, is about what kind of character you should have and ultimately what kind of person you should be in the future.”
The last eight weeks has not been easy for any athlete in Illinois, especially those who continue to question if and when they will be able to step back onto the field with their teammates one final time.
The IHSA announced in late April that spring 2020 tournament will be canceled, but the organization did leave the door open for possible summer matches should stay-at-home instructions be modified.
Even though the possibility of stepping onto Dozer Field to compete for a state championship has been eliminated, Dable, along with the other Spartans have kept their hearts and minds on working for each other.
“The one specific thing that I enjoy about being in the Spartan program, is the dedication that everyone has to the program,” he said. “Going all the way from the coaches to the players, everyone is dedicated to the game and the program, which is hard to find. It means a lot to know that everyone around you is just as dedicated as you are.”
Dable kept up on hitting off of tees and working on indoor drills that would keep him sharp should the call come that the team could get together.
“Each time I step on the field I want to bring positive energy to the team in order to keep the team morale up,” he said. “At the same time I try to stay as focused as possible.”
The third baseman and pitcher wanted to set a good example for his underclassmen teammates. He said that he had been through a lot of the circumstances and worry they would be going through. It’s the same viewpoint that those who came before him had.
“I have stuck with (baseball) because I have always had a love for the game and the relationships that the game brings with other people,” he said. “I have had many mentors who have influenced me to become a better athlete. My entire family has always pushed me to be better because they have all previously been athletes at SJO. I have also been lucky enough to have good coaches that have pushed me to be better.
“The biggest thing that I will look back on at the end of my career will be all of the good times that our team has had with each other. I know that I will miss it a lot, so I need to take it in as much as I can right now.”
