ROPESVILLE — As an assistant with Ropes baseball the previous two seasons, Nathan Flores knew the team wasn’t lacking for skill.
When he became head coach, Flores introduced a concept he’s held close since his days on the travel ball circuit. If players valued teammates as much as themselves, he said, the Eagles could achieve anything.
Flores believes that philosophy — “I am because we are” — has contributed to Ropes’ historic run.
The Eagles will play in their first state championship Thursday when they take on Burton at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
“That has really been the big emphasis this year,” Flores said, “is them understanding that being a good teammate, it plays a huge role in the successes as a team. Over the last three years that I’ve been here, talent has never been an issue. We’ve had good coaches, we’ve had good players that had awesome talent. I think that sometimes we just kind of let our emotions get the best of us.
“I told the guys, we’ve got to get that figured out. And if we can, I know that you guys are good enough and can make a run for a state championship. I literally told them that early, early in the season. It just kind of has come to fruition.”
Ropes baseball’s team motto
Flores went so far as to get “IAMBWA” on the back of the Eagles’ hats this season. It’s an abbreviated form of the phrase based off the African philosophy of “Ubuntu” that celebrates selflessness and relationships with those close to you.
The coach isn’t the only one who feels the outlook has impacted the team.
“(Winning state) was our end goal,” catcher Zach Ramirez said. “We realized that if we came together as a team, we’d be able to get where we are right now. I fully think we have every opportunity to win it all. As long as we keep being ourselves and being good teammates with each other, I think it’ll help us win at the end.”
It’s helped Ropes rattle off the program’s best playoff run. The Eagles built toward the goal after three consecutive exits in the regional semifinals.
“We were young for the first couple of years,” pitcher/third baseman Kade Franklin said. “We’ve had pretty much the same team the whole time. The brotherhood, all of us coming together, being this close, it’s just helped a lot.”
Ropes prepares to battle Burton for 2A Division II title
Franklin is part of an effective rotation at the forefront of Ropes’ success. The senior threw a complete game with 10 strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Albany in a one-game regional semifinal. The Eagles haven’t allowed more than three runs in a game this postseason.
Elijah Flores has been the Game 1 starter these playoffs, followed by Franklin. Ropes hasn’t played a third game in any series. Flores and Franklin went back-to-back to oust Collinsville in the state semifinals, and Cutter Stumbo was strong in relief in both.
The 4-2 and 4-3 victories eliminated a two-time reigning state champion that returned seven starters from the 2025 final lineup.
“It boosted our confidence,” Stumbo said. “We were confident going into the game, but now that it’s over, we’re just ready to go win it.”
Burton (28-4) reached the state semifinals for a second consecutive season and will play in its first title game since winning the 1A championship in 1987. The Panthers won three one-game playoffs to reach Round Rock, including in the past two rounds. Tyler Witt started all three and is 15-0 overall.
The game will mark the final chapter for a tightknit core that has elevated Ropes baseball. The team is hoping it’s a special sendoff for the group, some of whom grew up playing with Elijah Flores under his dad on travel ball squads.
“It’s honestly kind of sad,” Elijah Flores said, “but I know it’s been a really good ride for us. I know that we have a big chance to bring home a state championship.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ropes baseball found missing ingredient to make run to state final
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
