WORCESTER — Father’s Day plans around Hadley improved when rain pushed the MIAA Division 5 baseball state championship game between Hopkins Academy and Bourne to Sunday.

Rather than going to brunches or cookouts, the dads descended on Polar Park.

“Nothing better than watching your kid play baseball,” said Ryan Scott, whose son Yuuki Ishida is the Golden Hawks’ designated hitter.

Patrick Flynn normally would have attended a barbecue at his in-laws in Goshen. Instead he bit his nails, eschewing the plastic folding seat while he watched his son Liam Flynn pitch.

“It sometimes gets a little gut wrenching, but I have all the confidence in the world in him. I look at his composure, and I feed off of that,” Patrick Flynn said. “I’m so proud of them and so happy for them to get to be able to experience this and the hard work they’ve put in at this point. Just the fact that we got here is great enough for me.”

Baseball’s call spanned generations. Cooper Beckwith’s grandparents Diane and Walt came up from Pennsylvania.

Some remained kids at heart. Mark Uchneat wore a full Hopkins Academy jersey and hat. He joked with Hopkins Academy athletic director Fred Ciaglo, who left a family function in New Hampshire with his son — Hopkins grad Andrew Ciaglo — early to be at the game, that he could take the jersey back whenever. The Uchneats moved their plans to Saturday night to spend time with his brother in law.

“This is a good Father’s Day present,” Uchneat said.

Baseball and Father’s Day are somewhat tied in Hadley. The end of the town’s Cal Ripken season always coincided with the end of the year party on Father’s Day.

“This is fitting,” Uchneat said.

Brian West coached many of the athletes on the field as they came up through the youth leagues. His family didn’t have many big plans for the day, which made attending the game ideal.

“It’s amazing. It’s an amazing accomplishment for the kids. I coached these kids all the way up through so you’re connected to them. They’re having a great year,” West said.

His sons, sophomore Al and senior Cody, whose name is also Brian but he goes by his middle name, are one of two sets of brothers on the Hopkins Academy roster along with Patrick and James Fitzgibbons.

“I’m so thankful for everything. I mean, my dad does so much for me,” Cody West said.

The Fitzgibbonses probably would have gone to “brunch or something,” and Patrick Sr., who everyone calls Packy, would have called his brothers and his brothers in law to check in.

“This is it,” Packy said. “This tops it.”

Patrick Fitzgibbons, the Hopkins Academy catcher, appreciated being able to play his final high school game with his brother and have his family there.

“Playing in a state championship game, especially on a field like this, that moment is enough on its own. Winning would have been nice, but you can’t ask for much more,” he said after the 10-5 loss to Bourne.

Hopkins Academy coach Dan Vreeland saw his two kids through the netting after the game. They came on the field two years ago at Springfield College when the Golden Hawks won the title.

“I didn’t have plans,” Vreeland said. “I wouldn’t rather be anywhere than here.”

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.]]>