BonnerSprings.com

During the summer of 2008, my Honda Civic recorded a few hundred miles cruising around the Kansas City metro area to catch Mill Valley High School's baseball team in summer league action.

At that time, the Jaguars' record during the school season lingered around the .500 mark, but the signs were there that this was a program on the rise.

Coach Jeff Strickland had brought numerous young players on board for a rigorous summer of baseball. Players who weren't on competitive, traveling teams weren't required to play summer ball, but those who wanted to stick around for a while knew it would be a good idea. So many players were getting involved that it was obvious summer work would be necessary to avoid falling behind and losing a roster spot to someone else who was putting in the time to get better.

The summer of 2008 was full of ups and downs for the Jaguars. They pulled off some good wins and let other games get away. Most important, however, was that they discovered a few players who — if they continued to work hard and develop their skills — could be valuable building blocks.

The following year, Mill Valley again lurked around the .500 mark, but the Jaguars closed out the season in a down-to-the-last-pitch thriller against Gardner-Edgerton in the Class 5A regional tournament. Mill Valley loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh inning against GEHS ace Bubba Starling before a diving snowcone grab by the Blazers' third baseman robbed then-MVHS sophomore Alex Wilson of extra bases. The Hail-Mary snag also likely saved the Blazers from losing as Mill Valley would've taken a lead into the bottom of the seventh.

The Jaguars were devastated by the loss, and Strickland was at a loss for words other than to say how proud he was of his team for competing. They finished the season 10-9, but they were on the brink of better things.

It's worth noting that Wilson — the guy who was robbed of the potential game-winning hit — is now a senior for Mill Valley, and the Jaguars stand a sparkling 8-0 this season. Junior Jacob Spring started on that 2009 squad as a freshman, and seniors Ethan Appleby and Mark Biesma were among the current Jags who played in that game.

The Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A state tournament in 2010, and they returned with greater expectations for this season. The young talent Strickland began developing three summers ago now makes up the veteran leadership for Mill Valley. In addition, the current crop of young talent in the program has the program built to reload year after year and be a constant threat to win the Kaw Valley League and advance to state.

Mill Valley faces a tough regional at the end of the season. Among the other top programs in that regional are Gardner-Edgerton, Bishop Miege, St. Thomas Aquinas and Blue Valley. New school Blue Valley Southwest could be a wild card. Pittsburg, Washington and Harmon are more of a mystery. Still, the Jaguars are playing like a veteran club should be expected to: They're confident, they're focused, and they expect to make plays.

What's exciting is that for those of us who've been watching Mill Valley for the past few years, we could see the program building. As a result, the Jaguars' current success isn't a surprise.