With a losing record last year, the Bulldogs look to have a more successful baseball season this year. With key seniors from last year, such as outfielder and pitcher Cole Beck, catcher Brett Boyd and first baseman Paul Thompson, graduating, the team looked to build up their momentum with all of their new freshmen.

The boys are coached by Dan O’Leary. There are three seniors on the team this year: Tristen Clear, Carter Slowinski and Joshua Yeck. However, Clear is currently not able to play due to an injury in his pitching arm. Additionally, the team consists of freshmen Ryan Fessler, Elias Boyd, Jonathan Hein, Camden Bruce, Thomas Ward and Wyatte Lewis, sophomores Logan Bickerstaff and Chase Grable and juniors Ian Evans, Jacob Milbert, Luke Gazdik, Isaac Barry, Luke Snavely, Gaevin Sanders, Daniel Lewis and Evan Blinn. 

Practices have been mainly held in the gym, but when the weather is permitting, the players go outside and practice on the field. They occasionally go down on the track to practice some fielding and catching.

“At practices, we have been working a lot on fielding and making good, accurate throws to our target,” Fessler said.

The team had their first scrimmage scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, against the Carlynton Cougars. Despite their 2-15 season last year, the Bulldogs beat the Cougars in 2021, with a score of 12-8, which gave the boys some hope for another win this year. However, the scrimmage was later delayed due to the conditions of the opponent’s field. The scrimmage against Carlynton was rescheduled for the next day, but then, it ended up being officially canceled.

Following their previous cancellation, the boys played their first scrimmage on Tuesday, March 22. The Bulldogs were dismissed from school at 1:45 p.m. to face the Fort Cherry Rangers for an away game. The boys fell to the Rangers by a score of 8-5. Early on in the game, the Bulldogs trailed 3-0. Even though they put in the effort to catch up, they still fell short at the end of the day. The game made coach O’Leary feel optimistic about the future, and he has hope for the rest of the season.

The boys had another scrimmage scheduled for Thursday, March 24, at Western Beaver. They were prepared and ready to play, but the team received a message from their coach around noon stating that they would not be able to play. Again, their scrimmage was canceled. 

Although the start of their season has been a little rocky, the baseball team can look forward to nicer weather, better field conditions and a new season that will hopefully not be affected by COVID-19 rules and regulations.

“I’m just excited to play with my friends again on a field that I love,” Fessler said.