Captains of the Week: Boy’s Baseball
By LAUREN KIM
On the afternoon of May 7, the boys’ varsity baseball team faced off against Andover in a double-header, battling it out on the diamond for nearly four hours.
Big Red lost the first match 3-13, but came out victorious in the second with a score of 2-0, thanks to lower Beau Elson’s aggressive pitches. This victory is one of many this season for the baseball team. Both players and coaches alike attribute their success to the leadership and attitudes of their captains: seniors JR Bozek and Jake Shapiro.
Bozek looked back on the team’s performance this season. “Everybody is starting to settle into their roles on the field, and the results have been good. We had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but after a couple of games the team has really pulled together and has been playing well,” he said.
Bozek continued with an optimistic view: “We recently split with Worcester Academy in a double header and they are regarded as one of the best teams in the league, and we won against a very good Dexter team. Right now we are tied for first place in the conference, and are looking to hold that position.”
Head coach Timothy Mitropoulos lauded the team’s away victories, “highlights thus far have been our 3 league road victories. We have beaten Worcester, Dexter and Cushing all on the road. This is not an easy thing to do, and the guys have done a great job with their focus and drive to win when on the road…The other two road games were great as well, each having big moments where different guys came through in clutch situations. We look to have more competitive league games this spring, with a few more wins, especially in the playoffs.”
The win at Dexter Academy was certainly a highlight for senior and player Josh Morissette, who commends Bozek on his performance. “A huge highlight was our win at Dexter. Dexter is one of the top teams in our league, and JR Bozek pitched an unreal game to keep us in the game…Giving up one run in the bottom of the 7th, we left with a 7-5 win.”
Shapiro added on, “the season has gotten off to a good start for us. In league play we are 3-1 and we've beaten some teams that a lot of people didn't think we could.”
As for their attitudes towards the team, Morissette describes his captains’ presence. “Our captains are just good people in general that we can all be friends with. They're down to earth, and very approachable when needed,” Morissette says.
Mitropoulos adds on, describing the significant role the captains play, especially when creating an example for younger members of the team. “They are good role models for the underclassmen and have a great competitive edge to them,” Mitropoulos says. “They, along with the other seniors, have been leading the way for us on and off the field thus far this season.”
As someone who is often less vocal, Shapiro attributes his captainship as, “a person who leads by example. I try to do all the little things. Run on and off the field, pick up baseballs at practice, and obviously try and make the right play during the game to try and help the team win.”
On the other hand, Bozek leads by encouraging his teammates to have fun with the game, and amplifying every player’s voice on the team. “As a captain I have been trying to lead the team by making sure that everyone is enjoying playing, and that we create a tight knit positive atmosphere when we are together,” says Bozek. “My goal is to try and make every player feel important on the team.”
Overall, the team’s atmosphere is not only one that encourages competition and high-level play, but is also where players can enjoy the game and connect with their teammates. Regarding the team’s attitude towards winning whilst having fun, Morissette says, “on the field, they hold us to a high standard which we all expect from ourselves. We want to win so they hold us to a winning standard. But at the same time, they let us have fun, joke around, laugh, and be who we are. We take baseball seriously, but we have so much fun doing it that you wouldn't tell.”
Shapiro found his home on the baseball team, and thanked his teammates for providing the empowering community. “Exeter baseball has had a major impact on me. I've had some good teammates in my past years on this team who have taught me a lot,” Shapiro said. “I was one of the youngest guys on the team a few years ago but all the older kids reached out to me and made me feel comfortable on the field. I have tried to do the same now that I am one of the older kids on the team.”
The team looks forward to more upcoming victories in the season, guided by their captains’ leadership. Mitropoulos concluded, “They are good role models for the underclassman and have a great competitive edge to them. Along with the other seniors, the captains have been leading the way for us on and off the field thus far this season…We look to have more competitive league games this spring, with a few more wins, especially in the playoffs.”
