After all of the training and conditioning, the baseball team started off their season strong. Freedom won their home opener against Northgate on Mar. 30 with a score of 18-3. Their first game of this month was played on April 1 at home against Burgettstown. Freedom won with a score of 7-4 against the Blue Devils.

“[Those wins] really made us hungry to keep winning,” Junior RJ Schlegel said. Wanting to continue to win, the team consistently put in hard work. A big part to winning is knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie as a team.

“Our strengths are batting and pitching. Our weaknesses are in the field making errors and that’s something we need to fix,” Sophomore Zach Greene said.

Playing well and winning games both come from practicing. With the season in full swing and having one or two practices a week, the boys work on techniques and improving as a team.

Playing as a team is a very important aspect of baseball. Players must work together on defense to win. An outfielder must have a strong throw and accurate arm to get the ball to the infielders, where they have to be able to catch and execute to get an out.

It also works the same way for offense. Strong situational hitting with runners on base is important for any team to score multiple runs in an inning.

This season, the players have high aspirations for the team.

“My hopes for this season are to play strong as a team the whole year and make the playoffs,” Greene said. Advancing to playoffs would be a great accomplishment for the boys,’ and the team has a strong belief that they can make it.

“Our goals this season are to win a section title and make it deep in the playoffs,” Schlegel said.

Adding to their chances at making it to the playoffs, Freedom beat Fort Cherry 9-3, with a home run by Junior Bradley Eckman, on April 13.

“My favorite part about Freedom Baseball is being able to go out every game and play my heart out and represent my school,” Greene said.