photo credit: Sophia Rofendels
Spring has arrived, and that means Orange baseball is back in action. The historically great Pioneers look to follow up an excellent season after making the state championship last year.
The Pioneers lost 17 seniors this season, a few being very key players who have gone on to play at the collegiate level. However, the Pioneers don’t believe this is going to affect them.
“Although we’re a young team, that doesn’t change anything,” sophomore Zane Konczak said. “If anything, it makes us better. All the younger guys are learning to just go out there and play their game.”
Orange has a few underclassmen starting, with players such as sophomore Griffin Zavislak playing a pivotal role in the success of the team. Zavislak leads the team in stolen bases, stealing 20 bases in fewer than 10 games.
With the young guys getting all this experience so early, they can make a run not just this year, but years to come. This team is loaded with talent, and it will show this season.
Even with so many young players starting, the seniors have done their part. Senior pitcher Spencer West has a .077 batting average against, leading the team by far.
The team went on its spring trip to Alabama and Tennessee on (give dates), where it played multiple high-level teams. It finished the tournament 2-1 with a loss to Spain Park, the sixth ranked team in Alabama.
“The spring trip was a blast, being with the boys every day and the experiences our coaches provide,” junior Wyatt Lidke said. “Nothing beats it!”
Lidke is a returning varsity player, who has been great for the team this year. Lidke has 12 runs on 11 hits this season, tying him for the most runs this season.
The spring trip is a great way for the team to bond, as the players are together constantly. They build better relationships and make memories together.
The team morale seems to be sky high for this Pioneers team after its spring trip, and that makes them hard to beat. They are a team that wants to play together and that is something other teams should be scared of.
“This group is a bunch of competitors; we play fast and hate losing,” Konzcak said. “It’s early so we need to stay consistent and find our groove throughout the year into the tournament.”
Konzak is a multi-sport varsity athlete as just a sophomore, starting for the baseball team at second base and the football team at cornerback. Konzak has eight runs in seven hits this season.
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