Coming off of a disappointing 2018 season, Varsity baseball is hoping to again contend for a state championship.

Last season the team finished with a record of 14-8, but didn’t make it to state; however, they did take second in Regionals. It was an underwhelming result considering they placed second at state in the 2017 season. The team placed fourth in the Centennial League last season and hope to improve their placement this season as well, or possibly even win it.  

This season most of the team is new to Varsity, with only five seniors returning to the team in 2019 out of around fifteen on the Varsity roster.

“With only five seniors, we are going to [need] our freshmen and sophomores to grow up fast,” head coach Don Hess said.

While only a few experienced Varsity players are returning, some of the newcomers on the team have had limited experience playing Varsity before in previous years.

“This year… we’re really young but we [have] still got some [players] that have experience on the Varsity field,” senior Ben Gallagher said. “All of the guys that are on Varsity have a lot of experience playing baseball and they’re really competitive, so I have a good feeling about our team this year.”

Many of the athletes have high expectations for the upcoming season and the new players.

According to Gallagher, it is not unreasonable to expect that they will reach their goal of having an over winning over half of their games, and winning the Centennial League, if the team works hard and comes together during the regular season.

“Every season well all want to make it to state,” senior Chance McIlvaine said. “Every year we strive for the best and hopefully we can achieve that [this season].”

The Varsity team’s first game is away against Hayden on Tuesday next week.