Unsung Hero: Baseball Senior Louie Vining

One of the remaining contributors to last year's state semifinalist baseball team is outfielder Louie Vining. A senior now, Vining had an opportunity to play on a highly successful team in 2011. Now, as a senior, he displays leadership in a selfless way.

"When you're putting a team together, and it is a team, and it's a bunch of guys together trying to be one-goal-oriented so we're all headed in the same direction," said head coach Bruce Brobst. "If you have a team of Louie Vinings, you're going to be successful, because he will do whatever you ask of him. He will do it to the best of his ability. He gives you 100 percent every day."

Vining mostly plays center field for the Rams. Last year, Brobst said, Vining didn't have too many opportunities to be at the plate, as the coaching staff employed a designated hitter in his spot.

"Never once a complaint, a question - he just fulfilled his role," Brobst continued. "Same thing this year. He's not an infielder and he had to come in and play second base for us the other day. When I looked at my lineup card for who we had left and I saw his name, I said Louie, because he will give his best effort no matter what. He's just not going to have an attitude about anything."

So, Brobst selected Vining as this week's unsung hero. And when asked about the honor, Vining filled the definition of Brobst's words.

"I hadn't really had anything like this before," Vining said. "It shouldn't be about me, because the team's been doing really well. I don't really know how to describe it."

Brobst explained that Vining does whatever is asked of him. He's even one of the guys that leads the charge in cleaning the visitors dugout, and goes to pick up extra baseballs.

"I learned it from my parents," Vining said. "They gave me good morals. Sometimes, it's what coach wants to see after a loss. It keeps your mind off of things after a loss to go do that, because not everyone's going to do it. Somebody's got to do the dirty work."

Off the field, Vining tries to be a role model, too. He's well rounded in the classroom, and it shows.

"All I ever hear from other teachers is 'I love that kid,'" Brobst concluded. "I've heard that from many teachers. It's just who he is. It's not just when he's here, it's wherever he is. He's the same person all the time."

Vining's reasoning behind that is for the honor of representing the important aspects of his life.

"I don't really like to talk about myself that much, but overall I think I'm a good student," he said. "I try to be a role model on and off the field. I represent Spring-Ford, the Spring-Ford baseball team, Spring City Legion and most importantly, my last name. I have to honor my parents and my family."

The Rams are 10-5 this season, with two of those losses coming earlier in the week. Despite the recent woes, Vining has a positive attitude about his team.

"We had troubles last year too but they weren't as noticeabble as this year," he said. "It's the adversity that we have to face. Our team last year was really good, really talented. They were all on one page. We're all on one page this year, too, but we're having some difficulties getting through, but we'll get through it. No problem."

In light of his success and nomination, Vining was grateful to those who inspire him in life.

"Definitely my teammates here, coaches I have, Coach Brobst and Souder, and our field crew does a great job on the field," he concluded. "My teachers have been really good to me. I have to thank them."