The freshman boys baseball team kicked off its season with a cramped roster of 21 kids. They show a mix of talent, hard work, teamwork, and potential throughout their first few games this season, according to Coach David McFarland.. 

Baseball season started in early March. The Patriots played about 25 games this season.

¨This team has a lot of talent, one of our better freshman classes that we’ve had in a while so that is exciting,¨  said Athletic Director Matt Roach.

Freshman Aiden Forbes is one of the pitchers on the Patriots this season. He talked about how he prepared in the off-season. 

“I was at my facility a lot trying to increase my playing level, and get better at things I need to work at. That’s really it,”  he said. 

Freshman catcher Brody Lewis said he took some time to prepare for the season, too.

¨I have my club practice about 4 days a week and also get in the cages with some friends that are going to be on the team,¨ he said. 

During the pre-season the boys also all had morning and after-school workouts three times a week to build their strength and endurance for the upcoming season.

So far this season, the freshman Patriots have a winning record, as they are 11-7-1. One of their biggest victories came against Parkway West, winning 16-2 at West on March 23.

Since the team is entirely made up of freshmen, this is the first time many of them have played together.

Monzyk, Forbes, and Lewis all said that James Kettler is a key player on the team. Lewis and Forbes also both said Colton Shanfeld has been a key player.

All three had those common players, but also a spread out variety of who they all said are the key players because everyone brings so much value to the team in many different ways.

Lewis talked about who he’s closest with on the team. 

¨Everybody because we’re all a family,¨ he said.

Picking players for freshman and JV is a difficult task, McFarland said. In the end, he took 21 kids on freshman, and only Bryden Moss and Evan Bacon on JV originally, but throughout the season Moss swings for varsity and Bacon got permanently moved up to varsity.

“Players who are good people, coachable, and bring that team first mentality.  We have long used the phrase, ‘better person, better player” he said.