Baseball Looks to Rebound with its Youth
After a long, hard winter, Exeter baseball is gearing up for another season out on the fields. With a lot of new faces on this year’s roster, the boys will see what they can do with the new mix of players.
The record-breaking snowfall this past winter has made it challenging for the team to get in quality practices early in the season. “Our team is a little bit behind the ball with all the snow outside and having to practice in the cage all this time,” upper Stephen Cerrone said.
Lower Collin Shapiro agreed, noting that the team has a disadvantage against opponents who are able to practice in warmer locations. “Not having a spring trip makes it difficult to compete right away with schools that did get a chance to play down south,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the team’s outlook going into the season remains positive. “There are so many other teams battling the weather too,” Cerrone said. Manager and upper Devin Moore also looked on the positive side of their situation. “From a manager’s point of view, this team has the heart, skill and work ethic to win the New England championship. When it comes down to it, it's not so much about having fun, but rather getting the ‘W’s,” he said.
“From a manager’s point of view, this team has the heart, skill and work ethic to win the New England championship. When it comes down to it, it's not so much about having fun, but rather getting the ‘W’s.”
Cerrone addressed the importance of teamwork in order for Big Red to have a successful season. “I think we're looking to start the season on a hot streak and keep it rolling, and we're only going to be able to do that if we all come together as a team. We really need to support each other and pick one another up,” he said.
Senior Will Seiferth agreed with this emphasis on the team and believed that the boys have already demonstrated their willingness to dedicate themselves to the group. “A lot of guys have also stepped up into different roles that they may not be familiar with, such as pitching. I think this team embodies the phrase ‘play hard, play smart, play together,’ he said.
The team’s ability to get a solid group of pitchers will be essential for their success later on in the season. “We are going into each game with the goal of winning every pitch. We know that if we win each pitch than we'll win the inning and ultimately win the game,” Seiferth said.
Although this seems to be an area that the team is relatively weaker in, there are plenty of players willing to take up the challenge for the benefit of the team. “We are short on pitching this year, so myself and a few others are going to really need to step up to the challenge,” Cerrone said.
Prep George Bubrick echoed this sentiment. “We don't have a ton of experienced pitchers, but we do have underclassmen who can pitch and are going to have to step up,” he said.
This type of dedication to the team is what will ultimately lead Big Red to fulfill their ultimate goal of winning the New England Championship. If the boys can stay focused and develop their pitchers, they are on track to having a successful season.
“We are going to have to start supporting each other and cheering for the team, and build a strong chemistry with one another. If we can start working together as a team, then the season will be a great one,” Cerrone said.
Luckily, Exeter baseball seems to be doing just that. The roster is filled with players who know how to create an atmosphere that makes the sport fun yet rewarding. “The baseball team is full of guys with a lot of character. When I say that, I mean that we can be loose and joke around but also know when we need to get focused,” Seiferth said.