As the Spring sports season gets into full swing, the Varsity Boys’ Baseball Team has hit the diamond harder than ever with a completely different look. This year’s roster has a dynamic mix of Senior leadership and new Freshman talent. Rookie players are looking to make their mark on the field with every play. Even though this year’s Seniors bring plenty of experience, the Freshmen are looking to step up and prove that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. Whether tactics consist of standout dives to make an incredible defensive play or swings out of the yard, this year’s Freshmen show great promise for the Lake Highland baseball program’s future. While the Freshmen have been constantly showing out, the Seniors have not shied away from the spotlight, making their last high school season count.
One of the returning Seniors leading the team this year is shortstop Reilly Diebel. A shortstop is one of the infielders who is responsible for helping the catchers tag out baserunners, preventing runners from getting on first base. Diebel has had a great start to his Senior season, batting a .400, boasting a .556 on-base percentage, and showcasing a perfect fielding percentage. Although he is responsible for most of Lake Highlands runs batted in, Reilly hopes to impact the team by, “Having a good season my Senior year. Breaking a record, doing something never done, or playing like myself and being different from others.” However, to improve his game, Reilly has focused on making the most of his time after practice, polishing all of the different aspects of his game. He explains, “Getting a ton of extra work outside of practice. On my own with the team. Hitting every weekend.” Reilly has been focusing on getting the extra reps in before and after practice this season to prepare for his favorite rivalry game against Bishop Moore Catholic High School. With important games at home, “Bishop Moore has always been my top rival since I transferred from there. The biggest game is always a good game.”
Although Senior leadership plays a big role in a team’s success, the Freshmen have stepped up to the plate in their first varsity season. The new intensity and speed of the high school season can seem intimidating to Freshmen at any level, especially at the varsity level. From intense moments like stepping up to the plate, driving in runs in crunch time, making diving plays in the outfield, or getting strikeouts on the mound, many Freshmen jump at every opportunity offensively and defensively to prove they belong at the varsity level. However, with Senior leadership, some pressure has been lifted off the Freshmen’s shoulders, allowing them to learn from experience and help build the foundation for the program’s future.
This season, one of the key factors of Coach Conor Scherba’s team has been the mentorship of the Senior players to the Freshmen players on and off the diamond. With the Seniors’ years of experience and leadership, they have become the perfect mentors, helping the Freshmen surpass the intense demands of varsity baseball. From offering advice before and after practice, or helping guide them through difficult situations, the Seniors’ leadership has made a noticeable impact on the Freshmen’s play on the field. With mentorship from the Seniors, the Freshmen have approached the game with a clean slate. This has allowed them to approach the game with a new perspective while pushing themselves and their Upperclassmen teammates to play at their best. With this dynamic balance between young talent and experienced skill, the team can approach the season with a strong mentality and take on the competition.
Even though Coach Scherba has done so much more than just coaching the team, he has played a crucial role in creating and fostering the team’s strong leadership dynamic. While the Seniors have played a big role in helping the underclassmen adjust, through Coach Sherba’s leadership, he has worked on instilling the values of trust, honesty, communication, and accountability, which has allowed the team to become closer than ever. With the strong line of communication, hard plays in the infield and outfield have become noticeably smoother for the team, making them look like simple routine plays. Even if it is pushing the team to give more than what they think they can do, or encouraging his players after a tough game where they did not feel like they gave it their all, Coach Sherba’s support has helped keep this team’s heads held up high during one of the toughest seasons they have played yet. Coach Sherba’s outgoing determination and dedication to this team does not just stay on the field but off the field he is constantly working with all of his players making sure each one of them feels supported and heard during struggles in their season, making a lasting impact on each player’s mindset for the rest of the season.
Although the season has just begun, with the guidance of coaches and Senior leadership, the players have already been putting on an incredible performance from diving plays in the outfield, to stealing bases, and hitting balls out of the yard. Through Senior leadership and Freshman talent, the team’s improved play is impossible to ignore. Even though the Freshmen are playing as if they are experienced Seniors, the Seniors leave their mark on the diamond. With each game pushing the team harder, the newfound dynamic between Upperclassmen and Underclassmen continues to pave the way for a successful season. As the season progresses, this team becomes stronger and stronger with every game. Be sure to come down to the ballpark, watch Varsity Boys’ Baseball step up to the plate, and witness this team make history!
