After going 28-6 this past season and winning the state championship, the Wildcat baseball team is preparing for the upcoming season. With the pressure of being defending state champs, the boys are working hard everyday in practice, the weight room, and in scrimmages. As their first conference game approaches against Heritage, the team is very confident in their ability to beat the Heritage War Eagles.
Starting catcher Kaleb Ceola has high hopes as his senior year approaches. After winning a state championship, he has gained confidence and appreciation for this sport and his teammates.
“Winning was amazing,”said Ceola. “It was really good to see all the hard work we have put in throughout the year come together at the end.”
According to Ceola, the team’s goals and hard work has not wavered after winning a ring.
“We have been doing much of the same this year with the same hopes and goals as last year,”said Ceola. “Hoping to accomplish everything that we did last year.”
Outside of team practices, some athletes like senior Dylan Gibson take time to practice on their own.
“I have been preparing personally by playing in very competitive invite tournaments, hitting on my own multiple times a week, and working out on my own.”
With Gibson starting his season year, and being a three year varsity player, he enjoys helping lead his team. He believes in his teammates and thinks they can go all the way again.
“I feel very blessed for this to be my third year on varsity and I love being one of the team’s leaders,” said Gibson, “my expectations for this season are for everyone to do their job and play as a team. I believe we have a very good chance to go back to back, which hasn’t been done in a long time.”
According to Coach Andrew Loyd, the team has been preparing for this season since August. Although they won last season, they are not feeling any more extra pressure than the previous years.
“We had a great fall, and the spring season leading up to this point has been going well,” said Loyd, “I wouldn’t say we are feeling any more pressure than we have any other year. Our expectations are to win a championship every year.”
Loyd believes in his boys and knows they have what it takes to go all the way again this season.
“Our kids know that it is difficult to reach the pinnacle of the mountain, but it is even more difficult to remain on top,” said Loyd, “they have been working just as hard as any previous year.”