A middle-aged lady knocks on the press box window at American Legion Field at Dan Daniel Park in Danville, Virginia. All 12 of us in the box moan and try to ignore her, thinking she was wanting us to turn on the outside ceiling fans, and we couldn’t be bothered. There was a NCAA Division III regional championship game going on, and we needed our focus. No time to be bothered by trivial matters.
The lady keeps knocking with a polite smile across her face so somebody grudgingly slides the window open.
She leans in. Grin still across her face.
“Roanoke College’s Will Decker and Salisbury University’s Jack Decker are brothers,” she says.
My contempt continues to grow, but for a different reason. How did this lady know they were brothers, and I didn’t? After all, I’m a semi-professional broadcaster who gets paid in free hot dogs, Chick-fil-A sandwiches and soda. A true professional. How did I let this escape me while doing my pre-game homework?
I thank her. She smiles and goes back to her seat, and I get back on the 1’s and 2’s.
“Thanks to a fan, we have just learned the Maroons’ Will Decker and Seagulls’ Jack Decker are brothers,” I say, feeling worse I missed out on such a talking point.
Salisbury goes on to take the first game, 7–6, courtesy of an amazing game-saving catch by the Seagulls shortstop Scott Ardoin. The grab forces a second game, but Salisbury isn’t as lucky the second time around, losing the decisive game by a score of 13–5.
Roanoke’s players storm out of their dugout. A dogpile and Gatorade bath ensue, and the trophy is presented to the Maroons. After the celebration has been capped, Will heads to the opposite side of the field with his sights on the Seagulls’ dugout.
Those in the crowd with cynical minds might assume Decker has nefarious intentions heading over, and nine out of 10 times, they would be right.
But the elder Decker’s case represents the one percent …
Decker had one simple mission as he walked towards Salisbury’s temporary home: to catch up with his little brother, Jack, catcher for the Seagulls.
It was a moment that spoke miles about the bond the two brothers share.
“My brother and I have a strong bond,” Will said. “Although we are very different people, we have a lot in common, and I was still anxious to talk to him because that was the only time I could see him in an 11-month span because of our busy schedules. We weren’t able to hangout after the games either because we were both in separate hotels, so it was important I saw him before he got back on the bus to Salisbury, [Maryland].”
The two didn’t have long to talk, but they made the time count.
“I told him I was proud of him and asked what he was doing the next couple of days,” Will said. “He was upset they lost and seemed shocked the season was over. We didn’t have much time to catch up and it wasn’t the typical conversation because of the range of emotions, but it was still a good moment.”
Jack, despite hurting, was a class act as well.
“I told him how well he did and wished him good luck,” Jack said. “I told him to keep playing like he did against us, and he’ll have a great time at the World Series.”
It was a moment that stood over the 101 innings of baseball played over the four-day stretch.
Growing up with a younger brother, I am all-too familiar with sibling rivalry. My brother and I used to compete in everything. Freestyle rap battles, wise-cracking battles, staring contests and of course competing to see who got to ride shotgun.
It’s something the Decker’s can relate too as well.
“We are both very competitive,” Will said. “We both played many sports growing up. When we would compete in different games at home, I usually wouldn’t let him win at anything, but I would keep the score close enough that he wouldn’t lose interest.”
Talking about being a perfect big brother. I wish I could say the same.
When reflecting on their childhood, the level of competition between the two is something Jack still remembers.
“I would say we are equally competitive. Looking back on our childhood, I can’t remember a day where we weren’t competing with each other in some way,” Jack said.
I guess it’s all just a part of having a brother.
So far, the stars of this article have been Will and Jack, but now it’s time to turn the attention to their parents, Susan and Robert.
Watching their sons compete against each other for the same prize brought a mixed bag of emotions.
“The weekend watching Will and Jack play was both exciting and stressful,” Susan said. “We had always wondered if the stars would ever align in a way that Salisbury would compete against Roanoke, but the likelihood was so small we were sure it would never happen. And we never dreamed they would have to face each other three times in order to get to the NCAA Division III College World Series.”
“Watching the games on Sunday was extremely difficult. I sat in the center of the stadium, in neutral territory. I sat by myself and didn’t cheer for either team. It was tough, because the parents of both teams knew exactly the position we were in, and I didn’t want to betray my allegiance to either team.”
Judging by her comment, it’s easy to see where her sons got their strong sense of character.
Unfortunately for all involved, baseball is a game where somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. However, for the Decker’s it was a win-or-lose situation.
“It was a bittersweet experience to watch one son win and the other son lose,” Susan said. “Both teams played very well, so there was great satisfaction in that. Will is two years older than Jack so this was his last chance to make it to the World Series. I was thrilled to see him, and his Roanoke team move on.”
“However, Salisbury is a competitive team and Jack has to more years to play there. I feel pretty confident that we will travel with Salisbury to Appleton, Wisconsin, in the near future.”
The most difficult part of the weekend for Susan and Robert, was enjoying the celebration with one of their son’s teams, while having to comfort the other.However, they both handled it with the grace you’d expect after talking to the men they helped raise.
“On one side of the field there was a team dogpile, a Gatorade bath and fans rushing the fielding photographs,” Susan said. “On the other side of the field, there were tears. We were thrilled to celebrate with Roanoke; hugging parents we have become close to over the last four years and telling Will and his teammates what a great tournament they had played.”
“Then we had to go over to the Salisbury side and share in the sadness that was happening there. Salisbury lost a heartbreaking game in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals last year and here they were again just one game away from making it to the World Series. We told Jack he hit well and that he has two years left to get to Appleton. He and his teammates share a very close, and I think Jack was sad for the seniors who had to end their collegiate careers in this way.”
It was a moment that no one in attendance that day will forget anytime soon.
*Special thanks to Robert and Susan Decker for the pictures and Will and Jack for their cooperation.
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