4/7/2006 - TROTTER: People remember how things end up

Almost everyone knows how George Mason finished its college basketball season — winning four NCAA tournament games to advance to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.

Almost no one knows how George Mason started its college basketball season — losing two of its first three games, including a 20-point-blowout loss at home to NIT-bound Creighton.

Still, forever in college hoops lore, the ebullient Patriots will be remembered for their finish, not their start.

Take notice of this, Middletown High School baseball players.

No doubt, your start to this season has been beyond disastrous. Especially since expectations were so high.

With stars Robert Sabo — a Kent State signee — and Alex Kerns — the only 2005 all-conference selection to return this season — to go with more seniors than a Bob Evans early-bird dinner, you Middies had hopes for winning Middletown’s first outright Greater Miami Conference title.

But with your 0-5 league start, those hopes have crashed like Adam Dunn fielding a fly ball at the left-field warning track.

Middletown coach Mark Kerns and his players have been saying the right words.

“We’re going to be right there,” Kerns said last week after his team was nearly run-ruled at home by La Salle. “You won’t see this anymore. I take total blame for this.”

Privately, however, this 0-6 overall start must be devastating, especially for Kerns, who only has two varsity players returning next year. It may be years before we see a more talented Middletown baseball team.

But as talented and experienced as this season’s Middies are, they’ve looked lost at the plate. Middletown has been atrocious offensively, failing to score in two games and only scoring more than three runs once. The Middies as a team are batting worse than .200.

Because of such a poor offensive start, any GMC title hopes are no longer. But there’s plenty to play for.

Take notice of George Mason, Middies — your season is not lost, yet.

Because in any sport that places emphasis on tournament play, it’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Finish strong, and that’s all anyone will remember about your season.