The boys’ baseball and girls’ softball teams have storied histories at FC. Last season, the boys’ team went 25-4, making it to the first round of the semi-state tournament, where they lost 4-3 to Avon.
The girls’ team went 30-5, eventually losing in the first round of regionals 8-5 against Castle. Both teams are hopeful for this season, sophomore Luke Jacobi predicting the boys would go “22-10” on the season, while sophomore Adeline Shultz predicted a “36-3” record for the girls.
The boys’ team started the season facing early challenges, going 2-3 in the first five games. Despite this record, the players still believe they are competitors.
“I think we’re very well coached. A lot of the guys work pretty well together. The seniors have been friends for a while, so everybody plays for each other. I think that’s what helps us compete. I also think we hit the ball really well, we’re putting barrels on a lot of balls. Sometimes it doesn’t fall, and that’s a part of the game, but I think we’ll hit it pretty well this year,” said senior Jackson Hoehn.
The girls are starting the season right where they left off, going 10-3 to start the season. The teammates expressed how having good chemistry with one another has been a key factor to the team’s success.
“I think everybody really likes each other, and we work pretty well together. We have open communication, so everybody just meshes really well together,” said Shultz.
However, players do not just make an impact on the field with stats. Leadership can be a contributing factor in sports, and with a smaller senior class, someone had to step up.
“I think our senior Kaylee [Walters] has definitely taken a bigger leadership role this year, which is nice to see. I think everybody’s working together as far as playing so far, but as far as leadership goes, I think Kaylee and Addy Ware both have done a really great job,” said junior Nora Koehler.
Adeline Shultz added on to the idea of Kaylee being a leader on the team. “She’s always there and she’s always committed. She’s always putting in the work and showing up and being a good role model.”
Shultz was not absent from praise either, as Addy Ware described her as a “true competitor, she can hit, she can play the field, just basically whatever coach asks.”
A boys team filled with eight seniors and all but one upperclassmen, there’s bound to be more than enough maturity. But leadership, now that’s a different animal, but FC’s filled with it for now and the future.
“I think we have a really good group of seniors, I think we all have leadership qualities that help in multiple different ways. After the seniors this year graduate, I think next year’s seniors also have really good leadership qualities. I think we all mesh really well, so I think there won’t be a problem there next year,” said senior Travis Combs. These leadership qualities translate to the field, as senior T.J. Despain described how he uses those skills on the diamond. “The umpires are obviously your biggest battles, so you just have to keep the pitcher level-headed. Don’t let them get too anxious, too happy, or too nervous, and don’t let them sway one way or another.”
Both teams are full of young talent, ready to take on the next few years. The boys team has seven juniors and a sophomore on the active varsity roster, almost a full lineup of athletes just waiting for the chance to play ball. The players explained how they have high hopes that a couple of the sophomores will step into a bigger role this year.
“I expect a few younger guys to step up. I think we have a few sophomores, including myself, that are going to need to play a role in this year’s team. Luke Jacobi, being one of them, the kid’s pretty good at baseball,” said sophomore Jaxon Stone.
Meanwhile, the softball team has a much younger roster, composed of one senior, eight juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen. The softball team has 17 players returning for at least one more season next year. However, just because they are a young team does not mean they can’t play ball.
“The sophomores who are coming up to variety definitely have big shoes to fill, and I think they can fill them,” said junior Breleigh Lockhart.
Both teams hope to have a strong future in front of them, with strong rosters for years to come. The softball team will play Bloomington South at home on May 3 while the baseball team will play North Oldham at home on May 1.