The Last Ride

Image: Playoffs — The Gladiator varsity baseball team traveled to Royse City to play the Dodd City Hornets in the playoffs.

Playoffs — The Gladiator varsity baseball team traveled to Royse City to play the Dodd City Hornets in the playoffs. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Pensive — Ross Stiles waits for the playoffs to get underway.

Pensive — Ross Stiles waits for the playoffs to get underway. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Trevor is ready — Trevor Patterson is ready to play.

Trevor is ready — Trevor Patterson is ready to play. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: The dugout — The Italy Gladiators won district champions.

The dugout — The Italy Gladiators won district champions. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Desmond, Colton and Brandon — These guys are warmed up and ready to play.

Desmond, Colton and Brandon — These guys are warmed up and ready to play. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: The Hornetts

The Hornetts (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: A moment of silence — The Gladiators bow their heads for a moment.

A moment of silence — The Gladiators bow their heads for a moment. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Let’s play ball — The umpires and the coaches meet at home.

Let’s play ball — The umpires and the coaches meet at home. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: A salute — The Gladiators have waited a long time to get to this place.

A salute — The Gladiators have waited a long time to get to this place. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Buck warms up — Ryan Ashcraft catches Justin Buchanan for the game.

Buck warms up — Ryan Ashcraft catches Justin Buchanan for the game. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Who’s up — Buck gets his sign from Ashcraft.

Who’s up — Buck gets his sign from Ashcraft. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Jasenio at bat — Jasenio Anderson steps into the pitch.

Jasenio at bat — Jasenio Anderson steps into the pitch. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: What’s happening — The guys lean on the fence and each other.

What’s happening — The guys lean on the fence and each other. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Lefty Simon — Ethan Simon has had a great season batting and pitching.

Lefty Simon — Ethan Simon has had a great season batting and pitching. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: I am ready — Dan Crownover plays his last game for high school.

I am ready — Dan Crownover plays his last game for high school. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Josh hits hard — Senior Josh Milligan plays his last game of high school.

Josh hits hard — Senior Josh Milligan plays his last game of high school. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Let’s hear it — Jase Holden cheers on the Gladiators.

Let’s hear it — Jase Holden cheers on the Gladiators. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Colten is up — Colten Campbell takes it to another level.

Colten is up — Colten Campbell takes it to another level. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Ryan and Alex — Ryan Ashcraft and Alex DeMoss watch intensely as the game progresses.

Ryan and Alex — Ryan Ashcraft and Alex DeMoss watch intensely as the game progresses. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Jasenio gets warm — Jasenio Anderson is only a junior but has been pitching for years.

Jasenio gets warm — Jasenio Anderson is only a junior but has been pitching for years. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Go Desmond — Desmond graduates this year and he will be missed.

Go Desmond — Desmond graduates this year and he will be missed. (Crystal Ashcraft)

Image: Getting ready for the last ride — They will take their last ride home together and it will be a little emotional.

Getting ready for the last ride — They will take their last ride home together and it will be a little emotional. (Crystal Ashcraft)

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