This year’s men’s varsity baseball team is keeping their eyes locked on the prize with a record of eight wins and two losses.
The key to this record is the strength of some heavy home run hitters such as seniors KJ Hockaday and Brendan Butler. Hockaday is currently four homeruns away from breaking current Yankee Mark Texciera’s homerun record and eleven homeruns away from setting the state record as well.
Varsity head coach Joe Stetka is focused on discipline and teamwork during this season. “Our team has really come together through good coaching and great senior leadership,” junior second baseman Tj Centi said.
The team is also clearly focused, determined, and driven this year given the number of victories they’ve amounted to so far. “Everyone on the team definitely shows that they want to be there and you can see that on the field,” senior pitcher and outfielder Tyler Boyd.
The Patriots dominated the field on Friday, April 1, against Calvert Hall finishing the game with a victory of 20-9. The other big wins were against Patterson Mill (12-1), Aberdeen (14-0), Fallston (17-3), and Souderton (15-7).
So far, the team’s biggest battle took place on Monday, April 4 against Gilman when the Patriots fought against Gilman’s heavy lineup.
“It was an intense game and left you waiting to see what would happen next,” sophomore and fan Rachael Boyd said.
It eventually led to a tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Patriots ended with a win of 9-8.
“This year we have the most potential we’ve ever had to win I believe. The only team that can beat us is us. If we play to the best of our potential, no one can stop us. It’s just up to us to make it happen,” senior pitcher and catcher Ryan Kirby said.
The Patriots are learning quickly that any team can bring a challenge up to the plate, but with their constant hard work and determination, they believe that they can pull through anything.
Playoffs are on Friday, May 13 and the team is optimistic that they have what it takes to make it there. “Our team is playing great and we are working very hard. If we keep playing as we are we have a good chance of making the playoffs,” junior pitcher and first basemen Dino Profili said.
Taylor Hooper is a Photo Editor for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com.