Any high school coach that wants to reinforce to his team the importance of never giving up can use the Boston Red Sox's performance last night as an ideal example.

In the ongoing American League Championship Series, the defending champs were down three games to one against the Tampa Bay Rays and losing 7-0 in the seventh inning with elimination staring right in their faces. The Red Sox were drubbed, 9-1, in the Game 3 and 13-4 in Game 4, and could have easily packed it in.

Instead, they scored four runs in the seventh, three runs to tie the score in the eighth and won the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth.

A big key to this valuable lesson is the fact the Red Sox had been in the situation before and found a way to succeed. In 2004, they trailed the New York Yankees three games to none and last year, against the Cleveland Indians, were down three games to one before coming back to win the pennant and go on to win the World Series.

Can they do it again this year, still down three games to two? Who knows. But at least they gave themselves an opportunity to do so.

Earlier this fall season, the South River girls soccer team surrendered a late goal on a penalty kick at Severna Park that could have gone either way, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. No player on the current South River roster had ever beaten Severna Park at the point, but that didn't deter the Seahawks' effort in the final minutes. They had a great chance to score with a couple minutes left, but the shot went just high.

Then, with less than one minute left in regulation, the Seahawks scored to send the game into overtime. They scored again and left Severna Park smiling and with a valuable lesson learned.

South River is currently 10-1-2, likely to play in the county championship game and also primed for a strong run in the state playoffs. Should they ever trail by a goal late, they know they can come back because they have done it before.

- Glenn Graham