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Local Sports

Local sports in the Panhandle are not just a game, they are a lifestyle. Our community eats, sleeps and breathes cheering on our local athletes.
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News13’s Stephen Gunter is committed to giving you stories of the Panhandle’s top athletes, intriguing match-ups and unusual sports you may not even know exist.
sgunter@wmbb.com

Thursday, April 27, 2006

The Power Of The Reese’s Cup

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Gulf Coast baseball boasts a sparkling 39-8 record and a share of the Panhandle Conference Title.

Don’t think that all 39 wins didn’t come with some help.

Baseball and superstitions go together like peanuts and crackerjacks and the Commodores are no different.

Baseball players have their own ways of avoiding bad luck.

Assistant Coach Steve Merchant washes or not washes his socks depending on a winning streak.

Some players jump over the chalked foul lines, they never talk to a pitcher in the midst of a no-hitter, or tap their feet a certain way in the batter’s box.

When it comes to superstitions, baseball players are the wackiest guys on the planet.

“I was struggling a bit,” centerfielder Stuart Haywood said.  “Coach Merchant had a Reese’s Cup with him and gave me one.”

“Stuart sat down beside me, I told him he needed more energy,” Merchant said.  “I gave him a Reese’s Cup and told him if you believe in the power of the Reese’s Cup, you’ll have success.”

The next three games, Haywood had three hits in each game.

Coach Merchant brings enough Reese’s Cups to each game for everyone to have at least one.

“After infield practice, they come in the dugout looking for them,” Merchant said.

Coach Mike Kandler admits he’s eaten a Reese’s Cup before every game this season.

“I absolutely believe,” Kandler said.  “It’s like the equivlant of believing in Santa or the Easter Bunny.”

Of course, you have some players that do not believe.

“I got a hit [after eating a Reese’s Cup],” third baseman Justin Byler said.  “I got lucky, it wasn’t because of the Reese’s.”

“If they don’t believe, there’s very little we can do to help,” Kandler said.  “Most of these guys know the power of the Reese’s Cup is real and we’re going to Kissimmee as a result.”

The Commodores leave Wednesday, May 3rd for Kissimmee, Fla., for the opening state tournament game against Miami-Dade.

Coach Kandler added that they will have a truck-load of Reese’s Cups waiting at the hotel.

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