The sun is out and spring is here, which, for Head Coach Wayne Lovett and his team, can mean only one thing—it’s baseball season. The varsity baseball team kicked off their season this last month, holding a 2-6 record. The team has experienced growing pains as it adjusts to the loss of seven seniors, including college recruits Sean Asperger, Henry McDonald and Elliot Rowley, who led the program to the Prep League Championship last year. As the team grows more comfortable with each other and the new game plan, they are looking to shake off their losses and hopefully flip their season around.
Despite the unsatisfactory start, there has been one positive thus far in the season: the team’s chemistry. Lovett, a former player himself, initiated the team camaraderie and is known to have encouraged team relationships.
“The team is different now because we lost some really good players, but I don’t think that discounts us in any way… when we make a mistake we are always there to pick each other up,” said junior Jack Schugren.
Things are looking positive regarding teamwork, but that’s not all. In terms of skill, junior Alejandro Kohn Rabassa and sophomore Caiden Kennedy have stood out as some of the team’s brightest talents. Even as a player still relatively new to the team, Hiddleston has grown to appreciate them as leaders on and off the field.
On Mar. 10, the Panthers overcame a five-run deficit against Eagle Rock High School, breaking away from their five-game losing streak. Contrary to previous games, this game was a major comeback win, overcoming a five-run deficit. With Kohn Rabassa batting in three runners alone, Poly scored five runs in a single inning. Paired with senior Connor Poon’s strike-out pitching, they ultimately won 11-8. The team, however, still has work to do.
“It was nice to get the win from down big, but we still had some issues on our defensive side that put us in that run deficit… there is still a lot of polishing that needs to be done,” said senior captain Harrison Unanue.
Building off their recent successes, the Panthers move into league play with aspirations they look to accomplish as a family. But success does not come overnight, so hard, steady work will prove to be a deciding factor in Poly’s league results.
“The goal looking forward,” commented Unanue, “is getting a little better everyday.”