SENATE RESOLUTION 55

(By Senators Romano, Stollings, Jeffries, Hamilton, Phillips, and Martin)

[Introduced March 9, 2022]

Congratulating the Bridgeport High School baseball team for winning the 2021 Class AAA state championship.

Whereas, The Bridgeport High School baseball team, also referred to as The Tribe, is led by Coach Robert Shields, and is one of the most successful high school baseball programs in state history; and

     Whereas, Following six straight Class AA state baseball championships (2014-2019), the Bridgeport High school baseball team got bumped from Class AA to Class AAA by exceeding the limit by one student; and

     Whereas, The Tribe baseball team, although being the smallest school in Class AAA, competed against the state’s largest schools, including schools with over 1,000 more students, and fought their way to the 2021 Class AAA baseball championship, marking the school’s seventh consecutive and ninth overall state baseball title; and

     Whereas, The Bridgeport Indians overcame a 3-1 deficit in the championship game, scoring three runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to defeat the Number 1 ranked Hurricane Redskins 10-4, breaking a 32-game winning streak by the Redskins and ending The Tribe’s championship season with a record of 34-4; and

     Whereas, Coach Shields describes his players, over the years, as “grinders,” and told The Bridgeport News after his seventh championship that his team had a great approach and demonstrated resilience playing with excellence both offensively and defensively; and

     Whereas, The Tribe’s centerfielder Nathan ‘Nate’ Paulsen was named ‘State Baseball Player of the Year’ by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, a first time honor for a Bridgeport player, and he also was named to the Class AAA All-State First Team as Captain along with teammates Ryan Goff and Cam Cole.  Teammates Aiden Paulson and Ben McDougal were named to Class AAA All-State Second Team; and Chris Harbet, Drew Hogue, JD Love, and Frank Why were named Class AAA Honorable Mentions; therefore, be it

 Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby congratulates the Bridgeport High School baseball team for winning the 2021 Class AAA state championship; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate commends the Bridgeport High School baseball team for their outstanding accomplishments on the diamond and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the coach, players, parents, and school community for their commitment to excellence; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Bridgeport High School and Coach Robert Shields.