Kendall Rooker is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Peoria High School for AZPreps365.com

Peoria has made strides over the past years. Since 2016 under coach Shawn Sullivan, the Panthers have improved in the win column every year.

Then the coronavirus hit and the season was cancelled.

“The strides we have been making, this would have been our best chance, you want it an end to the story, we wanted to go out on our own terms,” said Sullivan. “It is unfortunate for us, I thought we would make a nice run with the group we had… I have kids I am close with; these kids have been working a long time to get to this point.”

The Panthers bounced back from an 0-3 start and went 5-1 in their next six games.

Sullivan texts his players to stay conditioned and weight train during this quarantine. He reminds them to throw or hit off a tee in their backyard.

This is hitting hard for a team trending in the right direction, especially for seniors.

Over spring break prior to quarantining senior Bryan Valladares worked out with his teammates.

“A few teammates would work out and eat breakfast with me in the morning,” said Valladares. “It is frustrating me and a few seniors have been building up this program trying to change the culture the last 3-4 years, we have the best chance, have the right people… some kids are playing the best baseball in their life and some are in the best shape and the virus came in and ruined everything.”

Seniors like Valladares never expected their careers to end this way.

“I was holding my tears in (when the news broke to him), you play that last game thinking you have another one,” said Valladares.

The Panthers are looking at the bigger picture.

“People’s lives and kid’s lives are much more important than playing a ball game on a Tuesday night,” said Sullivan.