Training since the beginning of the school year, the baseball team started their season head first. Some players committed to other sports during the offseason, but that didn’t stop them from walking into the season prepared.

“We’ve had practice since August, and so the school allows us to have a class period,” Head Baseball Coach Ryan Phillips said. “We have some multi-sport guys, but they’re out in November, so just the amount of practice that we’ve done, we’re well prepared.”

Even though the season began, the hard work and training never stopped. Through practices, the team focused on improving team defense, hitting, and end game situations so they could be prepared for scenarios that they could potentially face.

“We’re definitely working hard, keeping a good schedule, a good routine,” senior Cayden Thomas said. “Making sure we practice things that are going to come up in games.”

As seniors went and freshmen stepped into new roles, the team gained a set of new players. Junior Drake Pace felt that the biggest challenge was introducing new players to the dynamics and expectations of the team.

“With the new players in the team, kind of getting used to the daily, what’s expected, and kind of getting into the flow of getting comfortable with adversity, not giving up on it,” Drake said. “And so I think I feel like just facing adversity.”

Thomas appreciated the accountability and influence that was the result of relationships on the team.

“Definitely keeping me in check and keeping me hard working, doing the right thing, [they are] just good influences,” Thomas said.

When the players made mistakes, the team had each other’s backs. Instead of letting the slip-up define them, they moved on by taking control of the mistake and came back stronger than before.

“We just kind of pick each other up [to] make sure nobody gets down on themselves,” Pace said. “Because it’s a team sport in the end… so it’s like [we’re] building on it, and not letting it build on each other, and kind of just picking each other up and leading the team.

The sense of community was not limited to student athletes. Phillips valued the growth and relationships he developed over his four years at the school.

“The senior class was my first freshman class when I got here, and so knowing them for four years, I get excited about seeing how much better they’ve gotten, but also the relationships we’ve built,” Phillips said.

The season holds a deeper sentiment than previous years for Phillips because the first set of players he coached at YHS will graduate.

“It is more sad,” Phillips said. “I mean, I’ve liked every class I’ve had, but haven’t seen my first class through. It is bittersweet, just because I’ll miss them.”