Spring is approaching quickly, and with it comes the start of baseball season. The mens’ varsity baseball team finished last season with an 11-15 overall record and an 8-9 record in the ECC. This year, they hope to do even better than last year.
This marks a significant improvement from previous years, but some of their top players have graduated, causing challenges for returning players. Despite this, the team remains motivated to have a productive season. Through training and weight-lifting, the athletes are preparing themselves for the upcoming season.
Michael Scruggs, ‘26, expressed the team’s commitment towards the season ahead.
“We have been in the weight room since October and [have been] hitting and recently starting up pitching as the season nears,” Scruggs said.
Aidan Smith, ‘27, an underclassman for the team, echoed the level of hard work the Eagles are putting in. “We’ve been practicing 3-4 times per week with lifting and hitting and bullpens on Saturdays,” Smith said.
However, one problem the team faces is the loss of many players from last year. The Class of 2024 SENIORS played key roles in the team’s success last season.
“We lost twelve SENIORS last year, including four who went on to play college baseball,” Smith said.
In addition to experience and leadership, the SENIORS made every game enjoyable, something that will be missed this year.
“If you made it to one of our games last year you would know that the SENIORS brought a lot of energy to the game,” Scruggs said.
The absence of the Class of 2024 SENIORS means the team will need new leaders and will rely more on underclassmen and newer players.
“As sad as it is to see them go, it brings the opportunity for these new incoming players to fill in that twelve-player gap with their own unique energy,” Scruggs said.
The underclassmen were able to learn a lot from the SENIORS, which they will continue to implement this season.
“We can continue in the path left to us by the SENIORS and continue ruminating [on] the culture,” Scruggs said.
No matter the challenges, the team is very optimistic about the season ahead.
“I think we’re going to win a lot more games than last year and potentially make a run in the state tournament,” Smith said.
Additionally, the team created some goals they hope to achieve this season.
“I would say [the goal] is to keep following our motto adopted last year, ‘make ’em believe,’ and show everyone that Walnut baseball is a force to be reckoned with,” Scruggs said.
No matter the outcome, the mens’ varsity baseball team is looking forward to the season ahead and getting to bond with new players.
“I’m most looking forward to playing with the new guys on varsity and seeing how [the] JV and freshmen [teams] do because they have a lot of talent,” Scruggs said.
