Although the playoffs did not go go the way the baseball team (18-15 overall, 8-6 district) had hoped, head coach Jason Wilson said he was proud of his team’s effort all season long.
After a turnaround regular season that saw the team claw its way into the playoffs after a 3-5 start to district, the Leopards were ultimately dispatched in last Friday’s Bi-District round by the 19th-ranked Texarkana Tigers.
One of the primary challenges the team faced midway through the season was an injury to starting pitcher junior Jacob Terwilliger.
“They were able to overcome the loss of Terwilliger, who was one of our top pitchers at the time,” Wilson said. “It shows that the team kept believing in each other, kept practicing hard, and stayed determined to get into the playoffs. I believe they are hungry to have an even better year next year.”
Sophomore Matt Piccirillo said next year’s team will benefit from experience.
“I think it looks really good for next year,” Piccirillo said. “We all know what it takes to win games and will have a very experienced team next year.”
The program will graduate six seniors: Jacob Eschler, Nathan Fallon, Nick Garcia, Jack Treanor, and Luke Howell.
“All the seniors have had an impact on the program, but I am more proud of the type of people that they are and how they conducted themselves on and off the field,” Wilson said. “They helped to bring a winning culture to the baseball program.”
Howell looked back fondly on his years as a member of the team.
“Baseball gave me the opportunity to forget about everything else that was going on in my life and just have fun,” Howell said. “I grew so much as a player and a person, and I formed so many relationships that are going to last a long time. The team meant the world to me and I’ll never forget the impact it had on me.”
