After months of conditioning, training, and pre-season preparation, Newsome baseball has finally made their long-awaited return to the diamond. With opening day in the rearview mirror and the bulk of the season around the corner, Newsome athletes could not be more excited to test their mettle in the games to come.
“I’m looking forward to playing hard with my teammates, and hopefully winning some games this year,” said Isaiah Sanchez, junior and pitcher for the team, just before Newsome won their second home game of the season against the Riverview Sharks. The sentiment expressed by Sanchez is shared among many athletes, who remain focused on securing more wins for the team. “I’m excited to see what we can do this year,” said Braden Moon, a Newsome senior and catcher for the team. “We’ve been practicing every day, putting in work,” he added. With each crack of the bat and every perfectly executed play, the effort put forth by the team is evident. In their most recent game against the Spoto Spartans, which took place on March 5, they scored eight runs, beating out Spoto and taking home the win. With this promising start, fans and players are ecstatic to see what the rest of the season holds.
For some Newsome seniors, this season will serve as the conclusion to their highschool careers. “It’s my last year, and I feel like being leader of the team helps excite me a little bit,” said Moon, who will be graduating in May of 2024, alongside fellow senior teammates Dean Bulaclac, Ryan Harris, Drew Mega, Cash Peterson, Lucas McMillan, Samuel Phelps, Joseph DiPietro, Brodie Kyser, Marco Cafaro, Ryan Spitzer, and Wade Walton. While this season might be their last, it is clear that these seniors are determined to make the most of every moment they have on the field.
To assist in making the finale a memorable one, the team is working extremely well together. “Everyone’s getting along great so far,” said Walton, a pitcher and a first baseman. “There’s a lot of good team chemistry here,” he added. This sense of unity is a large contributor to the coordination that the team has displayed on the field thus far. Many of these players have been playing ball together for years, which allows them to work seamlessly not only as friends, but as teammates.
In addition to exceptional team chemistry, Newsome’s program is supported by a panel of trained coaches. “We have great coaches, great leaders,” said Walton. “They help us do a lot of really good stuff,” he added. As the innings pass by and the runs roll in, it is clear that Newsome’s team is doing something right. “I feel supported by my coaches,” said Spitzer, a center fielder. “I feel they help me succeed by giving me constructive criticism on things I may be struggling on so I can perform better when it matters,” he added. With the help and guidance of Coach Rohrberg, Coach Somellan, and Coach Ohme, Newsome is coming into the season well trained and primed for success. Athletes and fans have no shortage of reasons to be excited as the rest of the season unfolds and players step up to the plate.
