Wildcat Bats are Back!

Coach+Sawyer+and+the+captains%2C+Addison+Walker+18+and+Tim+Fay+18.+Credit%3A+Mark+Woort-Menker.

Coach Sawyer and the captains, Addison Walker ’18 and Tim Fay ’18. Credit: Mark Woort-Menker.

Baseball season is officially in full swing. Tryouts were held the first week of spring trimester to decide who makes Junior Varsity and Varsity.

The Varsity Baseball team is led by English teacher Mr. Sawyer, in his 24th year of coaching as well as Mr. Cunningham , Mr. Shelffo and Mr. Ketchum.

Last season the Varsity team finished with a record of 4-11. Varsity team captains Tim Fay and Addison Walker hope to lead the baseball team to a stronger record as they approach their last season of their high school careers.

Junior player Ryan Dwyer hopes to improve his baseball play each day.

“I would say my overall goal for the season is to just get a little bit better every day, and to have fun while I’m at it,” he said. “We have a few new guys coming into this season that have brought a lot to the team already and will continue to do so as the season progresses.”

Dwyer said he’s confident in the team’s prospects this year. “I feel very good about this year’s team,” he said. “We have a great group of guys and a lot of depth, and we are all looking forward to a great season.”

Coach Sawyer hopes his team will do better than last year.

“The main goal is always to win the Western New England Prep Baseball League,” Sawyer said. “There are lots of talented teams in the league this year, so it will take great focus and a consistency of effort to be in the mix for a championship at the end of the season.”

“That said, the way to achieve that goal is to focus on what we can control: giving great effort, being a good teammate, learning from successes and failures, and working to get better each day,” Sawyer added. “If we commit to those concepts, the season will be a success regardless of the record.”

Sawyer said to expect heated contests against rivals like Suffield Academy and Wilbraham and Monson. Other teams expected to be strong include Chesire Academy and Canterbury School. “Beating those teams will go a long way to help us achieve our goal of a league crown,” he said.

New players expected to have a big impact on the team are junior Cam Mariani and sophomores Nick Heafey and Henri Bourque.

“All three players are really talented, multiple-sport athletes who will bring athleticism and experience to the team,” Sawyer said.

In addition to captains Tim Fay and Addison Walker, Sawyer said the coaching staff is also excited about seniors leaders Will Jordan and Cam Ziomek.

“This group of four will provide leadership by example as they all show up to practice every day ready to work hard and get better,” Sawyer said.